Roller, calender and method for configuring a control and / or regulation unit

Abstract

Roller (1, 2, 33) for processing a web of nonwoven fabric, a web of textile, a web of plastic or a web of paper, having a roller body (11) forming a working side circumference (13), characterized in that at least one authentication element (4) is provided on the roller (1), which authentication element can be read by a device (3) for processing a web of nonwoven fabric, a web of textile, a web of plastic or a web of paper, in particular a calender, in order to identify the roller (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a roll for processing a nonwoven fabric web, a textile web, a plastic web or a paper web, or for processing a composite web comprising one or more of these materials; to a calender equipped with at least one such roll and to a method for configuring a control (open-loop control) and regulating (closed-loop control) unit of the calender. BACKGROUND

[0002] Rolls for processing a nonwoven fabric web, a textile web, a plastic web or a paper web are known in many variants and different designs. Such rolls often have a rotationally symmetrical roll body or roll segment forming a working lateral circumference, at both axial end regions of which at least one roll stand for supporting the roll can be axially extended relative to the roll body. The roll stand can in particular be configured as a roll neck forming a reduced diameter relative to the working lateral circumference or as a separate roll support, also referred to as cross beam. The roll can be designed as a conventional one-piece roll, such as an engraved roll, or as a roll composed of multiple components, like a flexibly controllable roll, for example a floating roll. Such rolls often have an outer diameter in the region of the working lateral circumference of between approximately 200 and 1600 mm, preferably between 350 and 700 mm. The working lateral circumference extends along an axial direction, also referred to as roll body length, typically between 1 and 12 m, preferably between 3 and 7 m. The typical roll weight is thus between 2 and 160 t, preferably between 8 and 20 t. The present invention is intended for all types of rolls for processing a nonwoven fabric web, a textile web, a plastic web or a paper web. Such rolls of course also include rolls with a lining, such as so-called cotton opening rolls. The arrangement or function of the roll in a device for processing a nonwoven fabric web, a textile web, a plastic web or a paper web, such as a calender, is not limiting for the present invention.

[0003] For calenders, in particular for calenders for processing nonwoven fabric webs, textile webs, plastic product webs or paper product webs, it is known to convey the web along a feed direction and to guide it through a processing gap formed by a roll in an operating position and a counter tool, such as a counter roll. Here, for calenders designed for quick roll change, it can be provided that a roll is in the above-mentioned operating position and at least one further roll is in a so-called stand-by position, in which the at least one roll located therein is, for example, ready for roll change. Here, the said device is to be understood as meaning all devices which carry at least one roll and are used for processing nonwoven fabric webs, textile webs, plastic product webs or paper product webs, in particular also as meaning devices which comprise only one roll.

[0004] In such processing, it is often necessary to replace or exchange a used roll after a certain period of use. This is mostly for the purpose of replacing the roll surface (roll surface). As other reasons, for example:

[0005] - the wear limit of the roll has been reached;

[0006] - the processing result is to be changed by replacing the roll by a roll with a changed surface texture and / or surface properties, such as changed grooving, backing material, backing hardness, etc.

[0007] In the case of hot setting of nonwoven fabrics using a calender, a grooved roll, preferably the upper roll, is usually provided, which is opposed to a smooth counter roll. Of course, both rolls can also be grooved rolls. In this use, at least one of the two rolls is usually heated. Since the grooving decisively determines the product result, and in order to be able to produce various different products, it is often necessary to replace, in particular, the grooved roll.

[0008] In the case of calendering of paper or textiles, a roll provided with a backing is preferably used, which acts against a heated, smooth or grooved roll. Here, too, it is desirable to be able to quickly change the grooving. More often, there is a need for replacement on the basis of considerations relating to the surface backing, in particular in order to use another backing type or backing hardness, or in order to be able to repair and / or regrind the surface backing, in particular for rolls with a softer backing, since more intensive wear usually occurs on such backings.

[0009] It is therefore often desirable to replace the rolls as quickly and easily as possible. To this end, calenders are known in which the quick replacement of the rolls is achieved by means of one or more rocker or slide levers arranged on the calender and each carrying one or more rolls. In this case, in particular, a calender is used which, as described above, enables a roll to be moved into a standstill position, while at the same time a second roll arranged on the calender is arranged, for example, in a working position. As a result, even when a roll replacement is carried out (the roll in the standstill position is removed and a new roll is fitted into the standstill position), the processing operation of the calender can continue.

[0010] However, when a new roll is replaced by an earlier used roll, a number of properties or parameters of the roll usually change with the fitting of the new roll. In addition to the changes in the properties of the new roll which, as described above, are often desired for reasons of necessity, there are also usually unintended changes which often require a readjustment or reconfiguration of the calender on which the roll is fitted. Here, the "fitting of the roll" is understood in particular as the assembly of the new roll when the roll is replaced, in particular in a device or system which is already in operation.

[0011] In particular after the fitting of a new roll, the control system and / or the regulation system of the calender need to be adapted to the changes which occur in the surface or diameter of the working side of the roll, the winding monitoring (Wickelüberwachung, roll angle monitoring), the bending compensation and / or the rolling bearing monitoring, in order to avoid production stoppages and / or quality changes in the manufactured products.

[0012] For example, if the change in the roll surface involves a change in the profile, there is usually a change in the press surface proportion (Pressflächenanteil) compared to the previously used roll, whereas the line force in the processing gap of the calender is defined in accordance with the press surface proportion. The same applies to a change in the roll covering, for which the temperature and line force permitted depending on the type of covering must be taken into account when the roll is used in the calender. For this purpose, these data must usually be manually entered on the operating panel / control panel of the calender in order to predefine the correct line force definition for the control and regulation unit of the system.

[0013] Due to the regrinding or new profiling process, the roll diameter (roll diameter) decreases with increasing service life. This property should therefore also be taken into account when fitting a new roll in the calender.

[0014] For example, after a new roll has been installed, it is usually necessary to adapt the roll rotational speed and thus also the rotational speed of the roll drive, while the desired material speed remains constant. For this purpose, the roll circumferential speed is usually recalibrated by means of a hand-held tachometer. However, especially for structured surfaces and / or for cases in which a higher speed is moved, the result of this method is often very inaccurate, especially due to the fact that the friction wheels slip on the roll surface. Since the calender is often an intermediate link in a process chain with a plurality of upstream and downstream units, this speed calibration, which is only for the calender and is also not very accurate, is often abandoned and instead the speed on the calender is readjusted at the beginning of the start of production, partially repeatedly, with regard to the system as a whole, especially with regard to the units upstream and downstream of the calender.

[0015] If the calender is moved based on the gap, that is, the line force in the processing gap is not set, but the processing gap height is set, the roll diameter is also an important parameter for the roll positioning and the parameterization of the calender, since it directly influences the gap height. Due to the technical difficulties, the gap height between the two rolls is usually not measured directly, but is determined indirectly via the position of the roll bearings and the roll diameter. Therefore, the gap height is usually adjusted via the radial distance between the roll working side and the upper roll bearing of the calender, so that a change in this radial distance related thereto can directly influence the gap height. Furthermore, when the gap tends to close under pressure, as in thermal bonding, in which the rolls are pressed together with a predetermined force, the position of the rolls can be derived from the corresponding predetermined roll diameter.

[0016] Especially for the consolidation of nonwovens, there is the risk that an undesired roll angle occurs due to the sticking of the nonwoven material web on the roll surface, which leads to a production interruption and can have serious consequences, such as damage to the components or assemblies forming the roll gap. The formation of a roll angle is monitored during the operation of the calender by detecting the roll shaft distance, since with the formation of a roll angle its increase follows. Thus, when a roll is replaced by a roll with a changed diameter, the existing sensors must be calibrated to detect the roll shaft distance.

[0017] Furthermore, the bending behavior of the rolls changes with the roll diameter. Therefore, if the previously used roll or the new roll is bendable, the bending compensation must be adapted. For example, if the diameter of the counter roll of a floating roll (S-Walze) is smaller, a greater pressure difference is required. Furthermore, for the case of a bending compensation by means of so-called X-Crossing or Rollbending, a parameter difference occurs after the roll change, which requires a change in the calender control and regulation, especially the mutual positioning of the rolls.

[0018] All of these situations require manual adaptation of the calender to the new rolls, which in practice carries a certain risk of failure and, especially due to long system downtimes, is associated with a particularly high outlay in time and costs. There is also another problem:

[0019] Especially for calenders operating at high speeds and in full-time operation, rolling element bearings are often monitored using vibration sensors. These sensors detect vibration levels within the bearing's specific defect frequency range. Even bearings of the same type produced by different bearing manufacturers may have different numbers of rolling elements and, therefore, different numbers of rolling elements and / or defect frequencies. Therefore, information on the actual number of rolling elements present is crucial for vibration assessment, but it is often not always available. Because assessments are often conducted remotely and over long periods of time, an additional problem arises: because roll changes are often not separately reported, the assessment process or vibration analyst often has no information on whether and when rolls were replaced and additional bearings installed during the period under consideration. Consequently, continuous and reliable monitoring of roll bearings (for example, by the manufacturer) is often impossible. Summary of the Invention

[0020] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a roller, a calender and a method for configuring a control and / or regulation unit of a calender which ameliorates at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages and in particular enable a particularly safe, rapid and simple replacement of rollers on a calender.

[0021] The invention achieves the above-mentioned objects by a roll having the features described below, a calender having the features described below and a method having the features described below. The application also discloses some advantageous designs and developments of the invention.

[0022] According to the application, the roll has at least one authentication element which can be read, in particular electronically, by a device for processing a web of nonwoven fabric, a web of textile, a web of plastic or a web of paper, such as a calender, in order to identify / authenticate the roll, in particular automatically. In this way, in particular when changing the roll on a calender, the newly inserted roll can be identified / authenticated automatically and the data specific to the roll are detected and read in by the calender automatically for control and regulation. There is no longer any need for manual input of data. Furthermore, the changing of the roll can be detected and stored electronically and, if appropriate, continuously monitored by transmitting the data of the new roll to a monitoring point. In particular for a calender which has a replacement processing roll in a stand-by position, the specific data of this roll can be detected and, when the roll is moved from the stand-by position into the working position, the processing parameters of the calender are adapted to the roll by means of the control system. Thus, defective web products due to a mismatch of the processing parameters can be reduced to a minimum and, in this case, a particularly rapid replacement is also possible.

[0023] The authentication element serves here as an information carrier. In the simplest case, the authentication element can be just an identification code provided on the roll. By means of a correspondingly individualized identification code and a predefined assignment, each roll can be identified / authenticated. Here, the identification code can directly contain more information, for example each numerical position and / or each individual number can describe a feature or property of the roll. It is thereby possible, inter alia, to directly and automatically transfer the following information to the calender: the properties of the roll surface, the roll diameter and information about the roll bearing. For example, in respect of the roll surface at the third numerical position, the number "4" stands for a predefined, defined property of the roll surface. In addition, the authentication element can also directly or indirectly provide further information about the roll, for example the transmission ratio of the drive (such as a sleeve drive, shaft-mounted gear, planetary gear) in a flexibly controllable roll, which can be important, for example, for the speed of the roll; the adjustment value (such as the Rezeptur associated with this roll or with the product moved by means of the roll) can indicate, for example, at the first use of the roll: for the given pattern, the line force in the roll center must be increased relative to the edge region; or, because the product moved with this pattern (roll) requires a higher bonding temperature, the danger of web sticking is higher, and therefore the cooling power at the roll edge should be increased slightly; information about the roll embodiment / design form, for example, for a heated floating roll, whether a cooling device, such as a slip ring seal cooling device, is additionally present, whereupon the corresponding interface on the roll can be manipulated in terms of the calender and supplied with energy (such as electricity or oil, etc.) or not; information relating to the compatibility of the roll with the calender - if the installation is completely possible, this can be checked, for example, in terms of the bearing center distance, the position of the hot oil connection on the seal head, the roll diameter, etc.; information about hidden settings or equipment, such as an insulator inserted into the peripheral hole of a conventional roll in the edge region in order to avoid overheating of the web outside or to reduce the cooling requirement, where the length can be adapted to the expected width of the web, which is usually not visible from the outside. The number and type of information that can be provided by the authentication element is preferably unlimited here.

[0024] The authentication element can be read, in particular (and preferably only) after the roll has been installed in the calender. It is thus not necessary to additionally establish an assignment (usually carried out manually) of a roll to a calender; rather, the calender itself is able to identify what kind of roll has been newly installed. It is thereby possible to reliably and unambiguously (single correspondence) authenticate the roll on the calender. In addition, it is possible to reliably set all data and parameters required for operation, in particular in respect of the exact working position of the roll and the calender working parameters required for operation.

[0025] For the reading of the authentication element, a suitable reading head can be provided on the device, in particular. The reading of the authentication element is preferably carried out contactlessly, in particular in accordance with inductively, optically, magnetically or radio-technically known methods. Thereby, a permanent, in particular wear-free and reliable reading is achieved.

[0026] Preferably, the authentication element is adapted to influence a control and / or regulating unit of the device. In particular preferably, the authentication element is provided for automatically configuring a control and / or regulating unit of the device. For this purpose, information read from the authentication element by the device can be transmitted to the control and / or regulating unit of the device.

[0027] Preferably, the authentication element directly or indirectly comprises information data about the properties of the respective roll, that is, of those rolls on which the authentication element is arranged. The authentication element can provide this information directly, in particular by providing a data memory, such as an integrated memory module, which belongs to the authentication element. The memory module can then be constructed as an integral part of the authentication element or separately and likewise mounted on the roll. Alternatively, the authentication element can provide such information data indirectly, for example by referencing or linking to a data memory or database arranged elsewhere. This data memory or this database can be arranged, for example, locally on the calender or on a device for processing a nonwoven material web, a textile material web, a plastic material web or a paper product web or in a network, such as in particular in the so-called Cloud. The information data about the respective roll can be stored on the memory module, in the data memory or in the database. These information data can comprise, for example, parameter data about the roll surface, such as the permissible line force and / or the permissible temperature, data about the roll diameter and / or data about the roll bearing. In the case of the roll surface, such information can be, for example, the embossed surface proportion of a liner, the permissible line force and / or the permissible temperature or the permissible temperature difference. It is thus possible, for example, to calculate the target value of the drive rotational speed from a predefined roll circumferential speed on the basis of the precise roll diameter value transmitted to the calender, in particular to the control and / or regulation unit of the calender. No correction by a tachometer is necessary. Likewise, the optimum bending compensation roll pressure setting for the given roll diameter can be calculated, in particular in the control and / or regulation unit of the calender. A so-called Nipabdruck for checking and, if necessary, setting the pressure is likewise no longer necessary. In addition, the limit values for the winding monitoring (reel / angle of wrap monitoring) can be calculated automatically and the control and / or regulation of the rolls on the calender can also be influenced in relation thereto. For bearing monitoring, the defect frequency can be calculated from the number of rolling elements and used for evaluation. In particular, the roll, the bearing and its replacement can be identified unambiguously (one-to-one) and reliably. In addition to the above-mentioned data, other roll-specific data can of course also be included in the authentication element, which are readable on the calender and can be used to influence the control and / or regulation unit of the calender.

[0028] In a preferred design, the authentication element is configured or comprises an electronic chip, which particularly preferably has a data carrier and / or a communication device for data transfer, such as a transceiver unit. In particular, the data carrier and / or the communication device can be an integral part of the electronic chip. To this end, the electronic chip can be arranged on the roller in such a way that it can be read by a calender, in particular contactlessly, which carries the roller. Furthermore, the electronic chip can advantageously be written to or read by a mobile hand-held device. Thereby, for example, data can be entered into the authentication element. The energy required for writing to or reading from the chip is preferably transferred to the chip from a corresponding counter station, such as a calender or a hand-held device. Particularly preferably, the chip has no energy store. It is particularly preferred that the chip is configured as a so-called RFID chip (radio-frequency-identification-Chip). Such chips and their functioning are known and will not be described here in more detail.

[0029] With regard to the arrangement of the chip on the roller, it has proven advantageous that the chip is not fastened directly to the metal, but has a minimum distance to the roller material, which can be established using a non-conductive material. The chip is particularly preferably mounted on a plastic plate arranged on the roller. In addition to weak conductivity, good thermal insulation of the chip with respect to the roller is thereby achieved.

[0030] The communication device can have, for example, a transmitter and / or a receiver and is preferably configured as a transponder for transferring data by radio.

[0031] The data carrier can in particular comprise a storage medium on which information can be stored. The information can thus be stored locally on the roller, in particular. The information can preferably be written to and read from the data carrier by means of the chip and transferred to another receiving point, such as a calender, when read by means of the communication device.

[0032] In a preferred design, the electronic chip contains only a reference address, such as a link, by means of which a receiving device that reads the reference address is connected or associated with a database that can be called up in a local storage medium, a network, a so-called cloud or the Internet, in particular a specific data set in the database. Such a local storage medium can be provided directly on the calender, for example. By means of this so-called link, the data set relating to the respective roll can be called up from the database and used to configure the control and / or regulating unit of the calender. The advantage of data stored in a database that can be called up in a network or the Internet compared to a data medium provided directly on the roll is that the data set relating to the respective roll can be readdressed, changed, in particular optimized, or deleted at any time from another location, such as by the calender and / or roll manufacturer or by a bearing monitoring device of the calender, in a particularly fast and comparatively easy manner, for example after identifying or researching a better or more advantageous configuration of a calender in a particular case. Furthermore, current instructions or guidelines for the respective operator of the device can be stored in such a data set, for example by the calender manufacturer.

[0033] Preferably, both a data storage provided locally on the roll or, particularly preferably, on the calender, and a data set in a network-accessible database are provided. By providing a data storage locally, it can thereby be ensured that the information data can always be used reliably. The data set stored additionally in the network or the Internet in particular enables the roll manufacturer to access the data quickly and easily for readdressing or updating. When reading the authentication element, the information data of the two storage media, i.e. the local data storage and the global database, can be called up and, particularly preferably, automatically corrected with respect to one another. A particularly reliable configuration of the control and / or regulating unit of the calender is thereby achieved. For this purpose, in principle, the correction can be made between the data storage provided locally on the roll and the data storage provided locally on the calender, between the data storage provided locally on the roll, the data storage provided locally on the calender and the network-accessible database, and / or between the data storage provided locally on the roll and the network-accessible database. Particularly preferably, the correction is made between the data storage provided locally on the calender and the network-accessible database. Furthermore, it is preferred that this correction can be made at regular time intervals, in particular independently of roll change.

[0034] As an alternative, and also particularly preferred, the authentication element can comprise only a visual and / or tactile coding or be configured as such. The coding (or also referred to as Code) can here in particular be understood as an encoded sequence of figures and / or characters, such as a QR code, a sequence of letters or numbers, or a combination of the aforementioned, possibly in combination with special symbols. The sequence of numbers can preferably be designed as a binary code. Such a coding allows, for example, a link to or a reference to a database, for example set elsewhere, which can contain further information about the roller, similar to the electronic reference address described above. The coding can here comprise a mechanism that is visible on a face of the roller and can be scanned optically, magnetically, inductively and / or tactilely.

[0035] In an advantageous design form, the coding comprises a sequence of coding characters oriented in the circumferential direction of the roller. The coding can here be provided on the roller carrier and / or the roller body, wherein the coding can be provided on the circumferential face or on the axial face. Particularly preferably, the sequence of coding characters extends over the entire circumference of the roller or the roller carrier and / or the roller body. The coding characters can in particular be mechanically formed on the roller. Particularly preferably, the coding can only be read when the roller is rotating or by means of the rotation of the roller. The coding mechanically formed on the roller can for example be designed as a binary code, for example with protrusions and recesses and / or as a hole pattern. Such a coding provided in the circumferential direction can in particular be read by a suitable detection device at low rotational speeds of the roller. Particularly preferably, the binary code is redundantly provided in two tracks, and in this case can advantageously be read by two independent sensors of a detection device without influencing one another. One track advantageously forms the inverted coding here. This ensures particularly durable and reliable reading.

[0036] Preferably, the authentication element, in particular eccentric or off-center, is arranged on an axial side of the roll or on a circumferential side. In particular, the circumferential side can be a radially outer side or face of the roll. In the case of an arrangement on an axial side, the authentication element can in particular be arranged on an axial side arranged in an axial end region of the roll. In the case of an arrangement of the authentication element on an axial or radial side of the roll, the advantage in particular is that the authentication element can be read during rotation of the roll. In conventional rolls, the axial or radial side can in particular be a part of a roll segment forming the working side circumference. In the case of a bendable roll, in particular a roll with an outer side support, such as a "Hot-S-Roll", the authentication element is preferably arranged on a circumferential side of the roll, that is to say on a radially outer side, for example in the region of a roll bearing housing, in particular in the region of a bearing cover via which the roll neck of the roll sleeve is supported. Since the bearing cover does not rotate in such a roll, the authentication element can be read by a detection device arranged opposite the authentication element on the calender in the radial direction with respect to the roll. In the case of a heated roll, the side with the authentication element can in particular be arranged on an end face side end of the roll. The end face side end can be formed with a step, a recess or a separate, in particular insulating, component via which a diameter step is formed with respect to the roll segment with the working side circumference. This is in particular advantageous in the case of a heated roll, since the authentication element is not adversely affected by the temperature influences which can mainly occur in the roll circumference segment. In particular, such an authentication element, which is in particular an electronic chip, can be sensitive to temperature influences. The authentication element can in particular be effectively protected from temperature influences in the end face side region of the roll. In the case of a heated roll, it is necessary to take into account that the permissible temperature, in particular in the working region of the roll, can generally be in the range of approximately 80 to 300°C, in special cases up to 400°C. Therefore, in particular an electronic chip can advantageously be installed only in a region of the roll in which the temperature remains relatively low even during operation, in particular in a region spaced apart from the heat carrier medium used to heat the roll. Such a region is in particular located in the axial end region of the roll, preferably opposite the seal head side.

[0037] Preferably, the authentication element is formed by protrusions and / or recesses which are configured on one side of the roll, preferably mechanically provided. The protrusions and recesses can be oriented in one direction, in particular in the circumferential direction, and form a continuous track. In this case, the protrusions and recesses can form a code, in particular a binary code, wherein the protrusions can be detected as "1", for example, and the recesses as "0". The protrusions can be configured as pins, elevations or applied material, and the recesses can be configured as notches, holes, depressions or flat surfaces of adjacent surfaces. Thereby, in particular compared to electronic authentication elements, a particularly robust, durable and thus reliable and economic reading can be ensured. In particular, changes in the authentication element and false readings, for example due to external influences such as magnetic or electric fields, can be prevented. In particular, the reading of such an authentication element can be carried out while the roll is rotating, for example with an optical reading head or inductively with a sensor such as an inductive probe or a Hall sensor.

[0038] In particular, in order to avoid thermal influences on the authentication element and / or the information contained therein, in particular in the case of electronic authentication elements such as electronic chips, a mechanism for thermally decoupling the authentication element can be provided on the roll. Such a mechanism can comprise, for example, a separately configured support member on which or against which the authentication element is arranged. Here, the support member can be configured so as to achieve thermal decoupling from the roll. In particular, this can be achieved by the form and / or material properties of the support member, for example by a small contact surface between the support member and the roll and / or by a material with low thermal conductivity of the support member. The mechanism can also be configured on the roll itself, for example by a step or a reduced diameter of a roll segment. It is particularly preferred that the support member is configured as a disc which is arranged at the end of the roll on the side of the end face.

[0039] The calender according to the application is used to equip at least one roll, in particular a roll having at least one of the aforementioned features, and comprises at least a base frame, a roll which is detachably supported on the base frame, and a preferably vertically movable counter tool which is arranged to form a processing gap together with the roll.

[0040] According to the application, the base frame of the calender has a detection device for the automatic detection and reading of an authentication element arranged on the roll. The authentication element can thus be directly detected and read by the calender. For this purpose, it is not necessary to manually enter information data about the roll on an operating panel / control panel, so that human errors can be avoided and the downtime required for replacing a roll can be reduced to a minimum.

[0041] Preferably, the authentication element is configured as an encoding arranged along the circumferential direction of the roll, and the detection device is configured as a scanning device, for example an inductively operating scanning device, which is correspondingly arranged in order to detect and read the encoding. The encoding can be configured, for example, in the form of protrusions or recesses which are mechanically formed on the roll. The protrusions can be configured, for example, as signal points which can be detected by the scanning device. In particular, the encoding can be a binary code. In particular, the reading of the encoding can be carried out when the roll is slowly rotating, for example during the start-up of the production of the roll, which is inserted into the calender. This achieves a time-saving and reliable detection of the roll information. In particular, the authentication element comprises at least one RFID chip which can be read by the detection device.

[0042] Preferably, the calender has a control and / or regulating unit which can be automatically configured in accordance with the authentication element which is detected and read by means of the detection device. In particular, the configuration can be carried out by means of information data which is read from the authentication element by means of the detection device and / or by means of a link of the calender, in particular of the detection device or of the control and / or regulating unit, to a database. In particular, it is not necessary to manually input configuration data for the control and / or regulating unit of the calender on an operating panel / control panel. This achieves a particularly time-saving, economical and fully automatic configuration of the control and / or regulating unit, for example during the start-up of the production of the roll.

[0043] The method of the application serves to configure a control and / or regulating unit of a device for processing a nonwoven fabric web, a textile web, a plastic web or a paper product web, in particular a calender, said device having at least one replaceable roll arranged on the device, which roll has at least one authentication element that can be read by the device, the method comprising the following steps: detecting and reading the authentication element arranged on the roll by means of a detection device of the device, in particular by means of two transmitter-receiver units that communicate with one another. Next, configuration data for configuring the control and / or regulating unit of the device are acquired, for example from a data memory arranged on the roll, wherein said configuration data are in particular for setting and correcting the working position of the roll and working parameters for calendering the nonwoven fabric web, the textile web, the plastic web or the paper product web. Next, the acquired configuration data are transferred to the control and / or regulating unit. Next, the transferred configuration data are read into the control and / or regulating unit. Next, optionally, at least one working position of the roll corresponding to the read-in configuration data is calculated and / or adapted in order to set the distance between the roll and a counter tool, to form a processing gap, for example a roll positioning that matches the roll diameter, and / or the working parameters of the device, such as the motor speed of the roll drive of the device that matches the roll diameter and / or the pressure loading profile that matches the roll bending behavior, are calculated and / or adapted. Such a calculation and / or adaptation is necessary in particular in the case of moving the roll based on the gap. As soon as the roll has been set, it is then placed, in particular automatically, in the pre-calculated working position and the pre-calculated working parameters are employed on the calender. Preferably, all these method steps are carried out automatically after the roll has been loaded on the calender.

[0044] Preferably, the roll is rotated in order to detect and read the authentication element. In this way, it is possible to ensure that the authentication element is detected and read particularly reliably. To this end, the roll is advantageously located in a position that is different from the working position set in order to form a processing gap with a counter tool. In this case, the roll is advantageously located in particular in a parking position on the device or in a position between the parking position and the working position. In order to read the authentication element, the device can have a detection device, such as a read head, which rotates together when the roll is pivoted from the parking position to the working position and thus remains at least equidistant with respect to the roll center axis. In particular for engraved rolls, it is possible in this way to read the authentication element during the roll rotation and pivoting.

[0045] Preferably, after detection and reading of the identification means, an electronic connection of the detection device to a database is established, which can be called up in a locally provided data memory, in a network or the internet, and the configuration data, in particular contained in a data set, are then read from the data memory or the database. A locally provided data memory is in particular understood to be a memory module of an electronic chip. Thereby, a particularly large amount of data can be provided and can be called up by the device. In particular, only one identification code is preferably stored on the roll. From this identification code, the roll can be unambiguously (one-to-one) identified and the associated data can be called up from the data memory or the database. The data memory can in particular be located locally on the calender, or the device can be connected to a network-available database, such as to the cloud, so that the roll-specific data can be read from the database and transmitted to the device.

[0046] Preferably, the identification means are configured as a mechanical code, in particular a binary code, which is applied to the roll, so that the code can be read by optical or inductive detection. Thereby, the code reading is in particular realized economically.

[0047] In an alternative design, the identification means are configured as an electronic chip, in particular an RFID chip, so that the reading can take place via a radio connection between the detection device and the chip. Thereby, an update of the configuration data can be realized particularly simply.

[0048] In a particular design of the method, the detection and reading of the identification means and, optionally, the subsequent method steps are carried out at regular time intervals during the operation of the roll. In addition, certain predetermined processes or operations on the roll or the device can also trigger the detection and / or reading of the identification means and / or the correction of the data stored in the data memory. Then, the detection and reading of the identification means can be carried out, for example, always as soon as it is recognized in any way that the roll has been replaced. For example, the release of a cardan shaft protection, the stopping of the roll and / or the cooling of the roll can be used as an indicator in this regard. Thereby, a particularly reliable and efficient monitoring of the roll in operation is possible. In particular, the updated configuration values can be taken into account. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0049] The application is explained in detail below with the aid of the drawings. Identical reference signs denote identical parts. The drawings show schematically:

[0050] Figure 1 a diagram of a calender system according to the application;

[0051] Figure 2 a roll according to the application, in a partial section, together with an embodiment of a calender according to the application;

[0052] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a detail view of a partial section; and

[0053] Figure 4 is an end view of an embodiment of the inventive roll. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] In Figure 1 a perspective view of the calender 3 is shown purely schematically, with the inventive roll 1 arranged thereon.

[0055] For the purposes of the present invention, the calender 3 can have any structural form. For example, the calender 3 can carry more than one roll 1 in order to implement fast roll change in a manner known per se. In Figure 1 the design shown, the calender 3 is represented generally only as a base frame 32 carrying the roll 1 in question and a counter roll 33. For greater clarity, the roll drive is also not shown.

[0056] The roll 1 is intended for processing a nonwoven fabric web, a textile web, a plastics web or a paper web and has a roll carrier 10 and a roll body 11 forming a working side circumference 13. The roll 1 can be constructed in any form, in Figure 1 the case shown purely for greater clarity only.

[0057] In Figure 1 the case shown, a roll 2 previously arranged on the calender 3 is being exchanged for the roll 1 which is being reloaded on the calender 3. The roll 1 is still located in a so-called standstill position on the calender 3 in which it has not yet been moved up to a working position 12 in which it is intended to form a processing gap with a counter tool, in this case the counter roll 33.

[0058] Since the new roll 1 differs in its properties from the roll 2 previously arranged on the calender 3, it is necessary to change the configuration of the control and / or regulation unit 31 of the calender 3. In particular, for the configuration of the control and / or regulation unit 31, position data for the working position 12 in which the roll 1 is intended to be moved up to in order to form the desired processing gap 34 between the roll 1 and the counter roll 33 and possibly some other unique operating parameters for the intended processing of the web can be necessary.

[0059] In order to be able to implement this configuration of the control and / or regulation unit 31 as safely and reliably as possible, as time-saving and thus also as economically as possible, on the roll 1, here on the roll body 11, there is arranged an authentication element 4 for identifying the roll 1.

[0060] The authentication element 4 is in particular adapted to influence, i.e. to configure, a control and / or regulating unit 31 of the calender 3. The authentication element 4 for this purpose comprises information data 62 which can be directly or indirectly called up, which describes the properties of the roll 1, such as data about the roll surface, the roll diameter and / or its roll bearings.

[0061] The authentication element 4 is in Figure 1 the design form shown is configured as an arrangement of codes 41 which extend along the circumferential direction U of the roll 1. The codes 41 in this case are constituted by elevations and / or depressions provided on one axial side 14 of the roll 1, for example in the manner visible in Figure 4 . In Figure 4 particular two tracks 45a, 45b along the circumferential direction are shown, each with one code 41. The elevations are represented here as circles which are illustrated on the tracks 45a, 45b, marked with the reference numeral 46. The "depressions" which lie in the plane of the side 14 are located between the elevations 46 along the tracks 45a, 45b. The elevations and depressions can be provided in a mechanical manner and represent a binary code in the order of the code characters along the circumferential direction U. This binary code can be read by means of a detection device 5 provided on the calender 3.

[0062] In Figure 1 the design form shown, the detection device 5 comprises a scanning device 51 which operates for example inductively, which is able to detect the respective elevations 46 and depressions of the code 41 when the roll 1 is rotated slowly. The detection device 5 can then for example comprise a sensor known per se, such as an inductive sensor, which is oriented here in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll. In this case, the scanning device 51 detects the elevations, for example as "1", and optionally additionally the depressions, for example as "0", so that a binary code is detected in the order of the code characters. Here, the depressions lie in the plane of the adjacent surface, they therefore only constitute positions which are actually sunken in relation to the elevations. The resulting number sequence can here represent a further code with the aid of which the detection device 5 is able to establish a connection, in particular by means of a communication device 53 provided thereon, to a database 60 provided in a network or internet 6. In particular, the code read from the authentication element 4 can be linked to a data set 61 located in the database 60, in which the specific configuration data 62 of the roll 1 are contained and can be called up by means of the communication device 53.

[0063] The data set 61, which is predetermined and provided for example by the manufacturer, advantageously contains for the respectively assigned roll 1 the respective unique configuration data of the roll 1, such as data about the roll surface, the roll diameter and / or its roll bearings.

[0064] These configuration data 62 obtained from the database 60 by the detection device 5, in particular the communication device 53, can then be transmitted, in particular fully automatically, to the control and / or regulation unit 31 of the calender 3 and read into or automatically input into the predetermined position therein. The control and / or regulation unit 31 can then optionally calculate and / or adapt at least one operating position 12 of the roll 1 and an operating parameter of the device 3 corresponding to the read-in configuration and parameter data 62, such as a motor speed (for driving the roll 1) adapted to the diameter of the roll body 11 of the roll 1 and / or a pressure load distribution adapted to the bending properties of the roll 1.

[0065] The roll 1 can then be brought by the calender 3 into the precalculated working position 12 for forming a processing gap 34 with the counter roll 33 and using the precalculated working parameters.

[0066] exist Figure 2 and 3 A partial longitudinal section of an embodiment of the calender according to the invention is shown together with the communication paths and the signal paths. Figure 3 Shown Figure 2 A detailed view of a partial section of the object shown. Identical reference numerals denote identical components.

[0067] The roller 1 is designed here as a so-called bending compensation roller, in the form of a floating roller. Such a roller 1 is used, for example, in a device 3 for processing a web, to form a processing gap 34 with a counter roller 33 that is as uniform as possible and exerts the same pressure, through which the web is guided for processing. The roller 1 comprises a fixed shaft 15 supported in a base frame 32 and a roller shell 16 that rotates about the shaft (axis) 15. It (the roller shell) is rotatably supported on the shaft 15 via a hydraulic oil volume (the hydraulic oil is located in a pressure chamber delimited by a seal 17). The roller shell 16 is provided with a roller neck 18 at both end faces, which is supported on the outside via a rotary bearing 20 in a bearing cage 19 supported on the shaft 15. A sleeve drive 21 of a known design serves as the rotary drive for the sleeve 16, wherein the drive torque generated by the motor is transmitted to the roller shell 16 via a flexible traction element. The roller 1 comprises an identification element 4, which is preferably (as can be seen in the example) Figure 2 and 3) is arranged on one of the bearing shields 19, preferably on the radial circumferential side 35. This arrangement is preferred for rollers 1 supported on the outside because the bearing shield 19 is the point at which the roller is coldest during operation (even if heated). Thus, each bearing shield 19 can form a means for thermally insulating (thermally decoupling) the identification element 4. A reading head 5 is arranged adjacent to the identification element 4. This reading head 5 is particularly suitable for reading the identification element 4 in a direction radial to the longitudinal extension of the roller. The bearing shield 19 with the identification element 4 can be fixed in this case.

[0068] In accordance with Figure 2 and 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the paired roller 33 used in the calender 3 is a peripherally drilled roller 22, including holes 23 distributed around the roller's circumference and extending parallel to the roller axis. These holes are used to allow a heat-carrying medium to flow through to control the temperature of the roller 22. In this example, the central hole 63 for conducting the heat-carrying medium is bounded by a partition 64, thereby preventing the heat-carrying medium (e.g., hot oil) from flowing completely, particularly to one axial end of the roller 22. Consequently, the temperature of this axial end of the roller 22 can be lower than that of the rest of the roller 22.

[0069] The roller 22 has a roller body 24 and a roller neck 25 mounted on the roller body and used to support the roller in a base frame 32 .

[0070] By Figure 2 The journal 25 shown on the right side of the drawing introduces and removes the heat transfer medium.

[0071] The radially protruding flange 26 is preferably mounted on the opposite journal 25 in such a way that its contact area with the journal 25 is minimized. The flange 26 can be designed, for example, as a disk that can be placed onto the roller 33.

[0072] An identification element 4 is provided on the flange 26 .

[0073] When the roller 22 is heated, the flange 26 is usually the lowest temperature part. This is because: due to its radial protrusion, it achieves good convection heat dissipation, and due to the minimal contact area with the journal, heat conduction from the roller is minimized. Therefore, the flange 26 itself and the components it contacts (such as the step of the roller shaft and the axial distance between the flange 26 and the roller step forming the roll neck 25) are - Figure 3 The discriminator 4 is arranged radially outward from the flange 26, so that an additional air cooling effect can be generated when the roller 33 rotates.

[0074] Since the flange 26 rotates with the roll neck 25 during the operation of the calender, the authentication element 4 can only be checked by the reading head 5 assigned to the flange 26 at certain rotational positions of the roll 22 or during its rotation. For the rotational drive, a rotary motor 27 is provided, which is coupled to the roll neck 25 via a shaft.

[0075] In Figure 2 possible preferred communication and signal paths are also shown.

[0076] It is preferred that the authentication element 4 is read by means of the reading head 5, for example with the corresponding drive being activated. The activation of the corresponding drive is suitable as an indicator of the authentication element being read, since the corresponding roll 1, 2, 33 has to be stopped for the exchange. However, other indicators which can be inferred from a successful roll exchange are also conceivable.

[0077] After the successful roll exchange has been indicated by means of an indicator, the data relating to the roll 1, 33, such as the diameters D1 and D2 of the roll 1, 33, are retrieved from the database DB by the device control system PLC. The rated value of the motor speed is then preferably adapted in accordance with the diameters D1 and D2 of the roll 1, 33.

[0078] It is preferred that the motor is fed by means of a frequency converter FC. The pressure loading Pdiff of the roll 1 is preferably adapted in accordance with the bending behavior of the roll 1, 33 in relation to the diameter. The line force in the nip is preferably set via the pressure Pzyl with which the roll adjustment cylinder 28 is loaded, with which the roll 1 can be positioned relative to the roll 33. The roll diameters D1, D2 are preferably taken into account in the calculation of the pressure Pdiff. In order to achieve an analysis evaluation in the "condition monitoring system", the replacement of the roll is preferably taken into account, and in particular also other parameters, such as the changed number of roll bodies, are preferably taken into account, for example the condition of the roll bearing being observed by means of vibration sensors with the aid of the condition monitoring system.

[0079] In Figure 2 and 3 In the design shown, the authentication element 4, which is arranged on the axial end face 14 in the axial end region of the roll 1, comprises an electronic chip 42, which is arranged on a plastic adapter 64 for insulation. In addition, an air cushion or air gap 66 for additional thermal insulation is arranged locally between the plastic adapter 65 and the flange 26. In the example shown, the chip 42 can additionally have a data memory 43 and a communication device 44, which are not shown in detail for greater clarity.

[0080] The data memory 43 can in particular be configured as a memory module, on which the configuration and parameter data 62 of the roll 1 are stored.

[0081] The communication device 44 is in particular configured as a transceiver device, in particular as a transponder.

[0082] The detection device 5 for detecting and reading the identification element 4 can likewise be configured as an electronic component with a transponder 52. The detection device 5 is in particular adapted to electronically read out and retrieve the configuration data 62 stored in the data memory 43 by means of the communication device 44, in particular by means of radio transmission. It goes without saying that it is possible to provide that, as an alternative or in addition, the detection device 5 establishes a connection to a database 60 located at a remote site, such as the network 6, in order to retrieve the specific configuration data 62. As already mentioned, the detection device can also be designed as a read head.

[0083] The configuration data 62 obtained by means of the detection device 5 can then be transferred again fully automatically to the control and / or regulating unit 31 of the calender 3 and read in automatically. After the calculation and / or adaptation of at least the working position 12 of the roll 1 and the corresponding working parameters of the device 3, the roll 1 can be placed by the calender 3 in the pre-calculated working position 12 for forming a processing gap 34 with the counter roll 33 and the pre-calculated working parameters can be used for the start of operation.

[0084] It goes without saying that the measures described above for one of the two rolls 1, 33 do not necessarily depend on the presence of a counter roll of the type described. Thus, instead of the floating roll, a completely different roll can also be used, which does not necessarily influence the design of the roll 33 and vice versa.

[0085] It should be expressly pointed out that the scope of protection of the present application is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the manner of information data transfer and storage can be completely changed without changing the core of the present application.

[0086] List of reference signs

[0087] 1 roll

[0088] 2 roll

[0089] 3 calender

[0090] 4 identification element

[0091] 5 detection device, read head

[0092] 6 network, internet

[0093] 10 roll holder

[0094] 11 roll body

[0095] 12 working position

[0096] 13 working side

[0097] 14 axial side

[0098] 15 shaft

[0099] 16 roller cover

[0100] 17 sealing device

[0101] 18 roller neck

[0102] 19 bearing housing

[0103] 20 rotary bearing

[0104] 21 sleeve drive

[0105] 22 roller

[0106] 23 bore

[0107] 24 roller body

[0108] 25 roller neck

[0109] 26 flange

[0110] 27 rotary motor

[0111] 28 roller adjustment cylinder

[0112] 29 circumferential side, radial / circumferential side

[0113] 30 distance, step

[0114] 31 control and / or regulating unit

[0115] 32 base frame

[0116] 33 counter tool, counter roller

[0117] 34 processing gap

[0118] 35 peripheral side

[0119] 41 code

[0120] 42 chip

[0121] 43 data memory

[0122] 44 communication device

[0123] 45a track

[0124] 45b track

[0125] 46 protrusion

[0126] 51 inductive scanning device

[0127] 52 transceiver unit, transponder

[0128] 60 database

[0129] 61 data set

[0130] 62 configuration data

[0131] 63 central hole

[0132] 64 partitioning device

[0133] 65 plastic adapter

[0134] 66 air gap

[0135] PLC device control system

[0136] CMS condition monitoring system

[0137] DB database

[0138] D1 diameter

[0139] D2 diameter

[0140] FC frequency converter

[0141] Pzyl pressure

Claims

1. A roller (1, 2, 33) for processing a nonwoven, textile, plastic or paper web, comprising a roller body (11) forming a working side circumference (13), wherein: At least one identification element (4) is provided on the roller (1, 2, 33), which can be read by a device (3) for processing a nonwoven material web, a textile material web, a plastic material web or a paper material web, in order to identify the roller (1, 2, 33). Characterized in that: the roller sleeve (16) of the roller (1, 2, 33) is provided with a roller neck (18) at two ends located on the end face side, the outer side of the roller neck is supported in a bearing cover (19) via a rotary bearing (20), the bearing cover is supported on the shaft (15) of the roller (1, 2, 33), the identification element (4) is provided on one of the bearing covers (19), and / or The journal (25) of the roller (1, 2, 33) has a flange (26), on which the identification element (4) is arranged.

2. The roller (1, 2, 33) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is suitable for influencing a control and / or regulating unit (31) of the device (3).

3. The roller (1, 2, 33) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The identification element (4) directly or indirectly contains information data about the properties of the respective roller (1, 2, 33).

4. The roller (1, 2, 33) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The information data includes data about the roll surface, the roll diameter and / or the roll bearings.

5. The roller (1, 2, 33) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is configured as a code (41) or comprises an electronic chip (42), a data carrier (43) and / or a communication device (44) for data transmission.

6. Roller (1, 2, 33) according to claim 5, characterized in that: The code (41) comprises a sequence of code characters oriented along the circumferential direction (U) of the rollers (1, 2, 33).

7. Roller (1, 2, 33) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is arranged on the circumferential side of the roller and / or the axial side of the roller.

8. Roller (1, 2, 33) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is arranged eccentrically.

9. The roller (1, 2, 33) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is composed of projections (46) and depressions formed on the side surface of the roller.

10. The roller (1, 2, 33) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The roller (1, 2, 33) has a mechanism for thermally insulating the identification element (4).

11. A calender (3) equipped with at least one roller (1, 2, 33) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a base frame (32), a roller (1, 2, 33) and a mating tool, wherein the roller is detachably supported on the base frame, and the mating tool is configured to form a processing gap (34) together with the roller (1, 2, 33), wherein: A detection device (5) for detecting and reading an identification piece (4) provided on the rollers (1, 2, 33) is provided on the base frame (32).

12. The calender (3) according to claim 11, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is constructed as a code (41) arranged along the circumferential direction (U) of the roller (1, 2, 33), and the detection device (5) is constructed as a scanning device (51) for non-contact detection and reading of the code (41).

13. The calender (3) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that: The calender (3) has a control and / or regulation unit (31) for controlling and regulating the rollers (1, 2, 33), wherein the control and / or regulation unit (31) can be automatically configured according to the identification element (4) detected and read by means of the detection device (5).

14. Method for configuring a control and / or regulating unit (31) of a device (3) for processing a nonwoven material web, a textile material web, a plastic material web or a paper material web, comprising at least one replaceable roller (1, 2, 33) arranged on the device (3), the roller having at least one identification element (4) that can be read by the device (3), the method comprising the following steps: - detecting and reading the identification element (4) provided on the roller (1, 2, 33) by means of the detection device (5) of the device (3), - acquiring configuration data (62) for configuring the control and / or regulating unit (31) of the device (3), - passing the acquired configuration data to the control and / or regulation unit (31), - reading the transferred configuration data (62) into the control and / or regulating unit (31), and - placing the rollers (1, 2, 33) in the pre-calculated working positions (12) and using the pre-calculated working parameters, It is characterized in that after detecting and reading the identification element (4), an electronic connection is established between the detection device (5) and a database (60), the database can be retrieved from a locally set data storage (43, 53), a network or the Internet (6), and then the configuration data (62) is read from the data storage (43, 53) or the database (60).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that: In order to detect and read the identification element (4), the rollers (1, 2, 33) are rotated.

16. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is constructed as a code (41) mechanically applied to a roller, and the code (41) is read by optical or inductive detection.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterized in that: The identification element (4) is constructed as an electronic chip (42) and is read via a radio connection between the detection device (5) and the electronic chip (42).

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterized in that: During the operation of the rollers (1, 2, 33), at least the detection and reading of the identification element (4) and optionally the subsequent method steps are performed at regular time intervals.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterized in that: After the transferred configuration data (62) are read in, at least one roller (1, 2, 33) operating position (12) and a device (3) operating parameter corresponding to the read in configuration data (62) are calculated and / or adapted.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein: The operating parameters include a motor speed matched to the roller diameter for driving the roller (1, 2, 33) and / or a pressure loading distribution matched to the bending performance of the roller (1, 2, 33).

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