System and method for continuously producing material panels, chip remover, and chip removal management system

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plant for the continuous production of material plates according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a system according to the preamble of patent claim 9.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a chipper according to the preamble of patent claim 17, particularly suitable for use in a plant or a method for producing material plates, as well as a system for chipping management according to claim 21.

[0004] For the production of particleboard or OSB boards, for example, wood must be provided in long chips. For this purpose, knife ring chippers are used, as known, for example, from DE 199 07 415 B4 or DE 10 2015 005 642 A1. In the second disclosure, the knife ring chipper has a vibrating chute as a feed device for the material to be shredded. Heavy material is then separated via a vertical counter air flow, and the material to be shredded is fed to a central area within the chipper. The air flow, which is amplified by the rotating rotor blade, presses the material against the stationary or possibly also rotating knife ring and shreds it. After the material passes through the knife ring, the material reaches a discharge chute and is transported further, if necessary by a discharge device, and transferred to a system for the production of material boards.As a rule, the shredded material is dried there if necessary, glued and spread into a pressed material mat and finally pressed into a material board, preferably in a continuously operating press.

[0005] DE 10 2017 004 522 A1 also discloses a shredding machine in which the load on the rotor blade and / or the shredding tool is measured during operation. This serves to achieve an improved uniform wear pattern on the shredding tools, particularly by controlling or regulating other parameters such as rotation speed or feed rate for optimal use.

[0006] This application of basic wear data has also shown success, and the wear pattern on the tools has been optimized. However, the problem is that optimal operation can usually only be achieved with experienced operators, and continuous operation (24 / 7) or high-quality production processes can usually only be achieved through empirical data and manual intervention by the personnel. In particular, tables and production logs are still maintained, sometimes manually, to use empirical data from previous production runs to optimize current production.

[0007] From DE 10 2016 110 070 A1, a plant and a method for producing a material plate have become known, in which the ratio of the grain size distribution to the production after the dryer is determined by adjusting a mixing ratio from two comminution lines.

[0008] Typically, the shredding devices or chippers are operated as stand-alone solutions within a plant and therefore only receive a single on / off command. This makes the present chipping system too inflexible for today's production requirements, especially for demand-driven and / or predictive production in a large-scale industrial plant for the production of material plates.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to create a system and a method for producing material plates in conjunction with a machining process that is capable of machining material as needed and, in doing so, optimally utilizes the available resources, in particular material and devices or tools. Furthermore, in extension of the object, it should be possible to proactively produce the produced material in order to cushion peaks in demand and to operate the machining process as closely as possible within the optimal operating range. At the same time, the machining should be adjustable, preferably in an automated manner, to the future requirements of the system with regard to at least the quality and quantity of the material. Particularly preferably, wear-prone overproduction or production with defective material due to worn cutting tools is avoided.

[0010] The invention is based on a system for the continuous production of material boards using a press, wherein the system should include at least one forming line for producing a pressed material mat, a press for pressing the pressed material mat into a material board, a finishing line for stacking, and a control system for the aforementioned parts of the system. A double-belt press is preferably provided for a continuous pressing process.

[0011] This object is achieved for a system in that a machining area with a control and / or at least one chipper, preferably a knife ring chipper, with a control is arranged in the system, wherein the control of the system is operatively connected to the control for the machining area and / or to the control for the chipper.

[0012] The invention understands grinding or grinding devices not only to mean the restoration of the knife with rotating abrasives and an indeterminate cutting edge, but also sharpening, for example using milling cutters or similar tools with a defined cutting edge.

[0013] The invention therefore understands a grinding robot not only as a device with a high degree of automation, which removes the knives from the cutting tool, reinserts them and sharpens them, but also the possibility of using an automated CNC milling machine as a grinding device or as a sharpening device, into which the blunt knives are automatically inserted and the sharpened knives are automatically removed.

[0014] Thus, grinding or sharpening are to be understood as equivalent means of restoring knives or other machine parts.

[0015] The following describes how the solution could be further improved and optimized with additional features.

[0016] In a first extension of the invention, the control system of the chipper can be suitable for implementing at least two operating modes, preferably an energy-saving mode, an operating mode that minimizes or maximizes throughput, a low-wear mode, and / or an operating mode that affects chip quality. These operating modes are characterized in particular by a combination of various setting options, which are described in more detail below. Advantageously, the chipper, or in conjunction with the chipper and production processes for material plates, can be operated adaptively or predictively for later production and / or maintenance, depending on production requirements.

[0017] Advantageously, operating modes that can already be implemented mechanically or electrically in the machining area or in a machining machine can be arranged or implemented, which can be controlled directly or by higher-level controls in order to switch, activate or operate the various operating modes.

[0018] Particularly preferred are silos or bunkers in or after the machining area, which can store the results of the various operating modes in order to integrate them appropriately into the production process of the subsequent plant components.

[0019] Alternatively or cumulatively, it can be provided that the control of the system is suitable to influence the control of the machining area and / or the machining operator depending on the current or future planned production.

[0020] Particularly preferably, the chipper can be assigned a sharpening robot suitable for preparing or restoring the chipper's cutting tools, and / or the chipper can be assigned a storage facility for storing the cutting tools, most preferably for storing or using cutting tools for different operating modes. One operating mode can also differ from another due to the settings used for the knife tools, in particular with other adjustable parameters.

[0021] Alternatively or cumulatively, to implement machining management, a control system can be installed in the system for producing material plates, which control system is preferably suitable for processing current values and / or empirical values from the machining area, a material preparation area and / or a machinist for self-optimisation, in particular of the various operating modes. In this context, it is also possible to use measurement results from subsequent or previous production or quality control to adapt or correct the operating modes. Particularly preferred is a control of the machined materials in order to assess the current wear (e.g. of the cutting tools) and to adjust the machinist's settings if necessary. Even fluctuations in the material (grade, type, quality, foreign matter, etc.) can be sufficient for the necessary control or regulation intervention in the machining area or on the machinist.

[0022] Alternatively or cumulatively, a control system can be installed in the machining area, which is capable of processing current or empirical values from the machining area or a machining operator, and most preferably in conjunction with quality characteristics of the corresponding produced material panels and / or the quality of the raw material (fresh wood / waste wood / wood species, etc.). An evaluation unit, the control system, or the closed-loop control system can develop or improve suggestions for setting the parameters of the system or the machining area and suggest these to an operator or incorporate them into production automatically.

[0023] InIn a further embodiment, a system can be arranged in the plant to form a machining management system, which system comprises at least one device for storing and / or evaluating data, for example the measured values, the parameters and / or the operating states, wherein particularly preferably the data from the machining area, a machinist, the preparation, the forming line, the pressing line, the press, the final production and / or from the quality management for the products, for example laboratory data, are stored and / or evaluated.

[0024] In order to develop machining management, the cutting tools in the machining area can also be marked and arranged in a way that is recognizable and / or traceable by appropriate reading and / or writing devices during their use or processing in the system components, preferably in the machining center, in its storage and / or in the sharpening robot.

[0025] The invention further relates to a method for operating a plant for the continuous production of material sheets using a press, wherein a pressed material mat is created in a forming section in the plant, pressed into a material sheet in a press, and stacked after final production, wherein these parts of the plant are operated by a control system. The object of the invention is achieved in that a machining area and / or at least one chipper, preferably a knife-ring chipper, are controlled by controls in the plant, and wherein the control system of the plant is operatively connected to the control system for the machining area and / or to the control system for the chipper.

[0026] Particularly preferably, the machining area and / or the cutter can be set to different operating modes depending on the production or the system, preferably to an energy-saving mode, an operating mode minimized or maximized with regard to throughput, a low-wear mode and / or an operating mode concerning chip quality.

[0027] InIn one embodiment, the system's control can influence the control of the machining area and / or the machining operator depending on current or future planned production. In this case, the material is advantageously produced, preferably in advance, as it will later be required for a specific product. For example, high-quality chips can be produced for high-quality material boards, and lower-quality chips can be produced for lower-quality boards, preferably in conjunction with lower power consumption or less wear. Similar considerations could also be applied to the production of fibers in an MDF plant or for the production of strands in an OSB plant.

[0028] Alternatively or cumulatively, depending on current or future planned production, the system control system can influence the preparation of the cutting tools of the machinist and / or a storage facility for the cutting tools, as well as the selection and use of the cutting tools, preferably for the storage or use of cutting tools for different operating modes. For example, freshly sharpened knives or knife rings can be used for high-quality production, while knife rings or knives with existing wear and correspondingly lower quality can be used for lower-quality production.

[0029] In a particular embodiment, a machining management system is used or implemented, which is preferably suitable for processing current and / or empirical values from the machining area, the processing area, and / or a machining operator for self-optimization, in particular the various operating modes. For this purpose, a self-learning system in the form of algorithms, neural networks, or artificial intelligence can preferably be provided, which evaluates a large amount of data and generates parameters for adjusting the system, the machining operator, or the system.

[0030] Particularly preferably, a control system can be used in the machining area that is suitable for processing current or empirical values from the machining area or a machining operator in conjunction with quality characteristics of the associated produced material plates and, in particular, for developing suggestions for adjusting the parameters of the system or the machining area or for improving them. Here, too, a self-learning system in the form of algorithms or artificial intelligence can preferably be provided, which evaluates a large amount of data and generates parameters for adjusting the system, the machining operator, or the system.

[0031] Particularly preferably, in a high-quality system for carrying out machining management, data and measured values can be stored, processed and / or evaluated, for example measured values, parameters and / or operating states, wherein particularly preferably the data from the machining area, a machinist, the preparation, the forming line, the pressing line, the press, the final production and / or from the quality management for the products, for example laboratory data, are stored and / or evaluated.

[0032] According to the invention, the machining management system can be provided locally for a single chipper or for a larger number of chipping devices (multiple chippers and / or other chipping devices). However, global systems for the plant or even for a higher-level plant control system, which can supply data to and / or receive data from multiple plants, preferably at different locations, can also be provided. In global systems or plants, parameters, measured values, quality characteristics, and much more can be exchanged and used to optimize local systems.

[0033] Particularly preferably, the cutting tools, knife rings, chippers, and / or knives are marked and can be clearly recorded electronically with respect to each other and / or their empirical values and / or measurement data. They can be identified in the individual system components, such as storage, sharpening robots, and / or chippers, using suitable write and / or read devices by the receiving or discharging individual machines, and are suitable for data adaptation / transfer. This essentially serves to support the control systems, which can access the data and the existing stocks accordingly to determine the best possible configuration and transmit it if necessary.

[0034] In the context of effective machining management or a system for this purpose, the focus is not only on the overall system; the machinist or the machining area, especially with an automatic system for loading or adjusting the machinist itself, must also be suitable for meeting and, if necessary, implementing the specifications. It should also be possible for smaller plants or businesses to operate a machinist in this way or to carry out contract or contract manufacturing if the machinist is located locally separate from the plant.

[0035] A generic chipper preferably has cutting tools for comminuting material during the production of material plates and comprises a feed device for the material, a heavy material separator, a drive, a discharge device for the crushed material and a control system for the chipper.

[0036] Typically, the simple control in the state of the art is only an on / off switch for the machining because different setting modes were not provided.

[0037] The task is solved for the chipper in that sensors for generating measured values are arranged on the feeding device, the heavy material separator, on the discharge device and / or for the material itself and are operatively connected to the control system for evaluating the measured values, whereby the control system is operatively connected to actuators and / or adjustable machine elements on the chipper for controlling or regulating the chipper.

[0038] In particular, it can be provided that the control system is operatively connected to the feed device, the heavy material separator, the discharge device for the material and / or the drive of the chipper and from there records measured values and / or specifies parameter settings.

[0039] The recording of measured values from these areas is not exhaustive, but can be taken from several other areas in and around the chipper or, if appropriate, can lead to the adjustment of a large number of parameters on or in the chipper.

[0040] However, a chipper can be understood not only as a knife-ring chipper, but also as other devices for comminuting particles. This particularly applies to chipping management and the use of a sharpening station for the cutting tools in a refiner (fiber production) or flaker (coarse chip production), as well as other comminution devices, especially in relation to a plant for the production of material boards.

[0041] InIn this context, the sensors or actuators generating measured values can also be located on the cutting tools and / or on a material distribution system for the cutting tools. This increases the effectiveness of the overall system for developing optimal control for various operating modes. At the same time, it is possible to control the chipper or its individual units.

[0042] Actuators or actuators are machine elements that can influence other machine elements, the process or the device through appropriate and controllable drives.

[0043] Alternatively or cumulatively, the control of the or the control for a plurality of chippers may be suitable for setting at least two different operating modes, preferably an energy-saving mode, an operating mode which minimizes or maximizes throughput, a low-wear mode or an operating mode which affects chip quality.

[0044] In particular, it is intended to operate one or more chippers with a frequency-controlled converter so that different cutting speeds or rotational speeds can be set on the cutting tools. An optional distribution rotor for distributing the material to be shredded across the width of the knife ring can also be equipped with an adjustable drive or a frequency-controlled converter.

[0045] In a separate inventive embodiment, it may be provided to provide a frequency-controlled converter for adjusting the drive for several motors or chippers.

[0046] In a further cumulative or alternative embodiment, it may be possible a weighing device for impurities from the heavy material separator, a device for determining the wood species, the mixing ratio and / or the chip sizes before or after the chipper, a device for determining the vibration or noise development on the chipper, a weight or volume measurement in the feeding device, measuring devices or strain gauges in the chipper or on the cutting tools, sensors on the drive for the tool system, read and / or write sensors for electronic features on the cutting tool or knife ring, for example RFID, in the chipper, in the storage and / or in the sharpening robot, and / or pressure or air flow sensors in or on the chipper and / or in the ejection box for the shredded material and if available, to connect to the controller.

[0047] To complete the invention, a system is proposed for carrying out a computer-implemented machining management or method in the course of producing material plates in a plant or as an isolated solution for one or individual machinists, comprising a data processing device for executing a computer program product for storing and / or evaluating data, wherein data from the machining area, a machinist, the preparation, the forming line, the pressing line, the press, the final production and / or from the quality management for the products, for example laboratory data, are stored and / or evaluated and can be used, preferably in a predictive or self-learning manner, to control or regulate the production of the plant in relation to the machining area.

[0048] It may be necessary for the cutting tools of the machinists to be registered and marked, making them suitable for recognition by the warehouse, the maintenance and sharpening system, and the machinists themselves. This may also be useful for holders for the cutting tools, for example, for the machinists' knife packs or knife rings.

[0049] A computer program product can also be provided for implementing a computer-implemented method (PR), in particular for carrying out machining management for storing and / or evaluating data during the production of material plates in a data processing device in a plant or an isolated solution for individual or multiple machinists, wherein data from the machining area, a machinist, the preparation, the forming line, the pressing line, the press, the final production and / or from the quality management for the products, for example laboratory data, are stored and evaluated, preferably in conjunction with self-learning algorithms.

[0050] Advantageously, various operating modes can now be set in the machining area or by the machining units and used as needed in a complex production process. Previously, machining units and their motors were designed so that only one cutting speed or rotational speed could be set due to their required drive power of several hundred kW. Frequency-controlled motors of this size are not currently available for cost reasons. However, the costs could be recouped with the machining management system according to the invention, especially if the cutting speed could be adjusted using a frequency control and appropriate frequency converter.

[0051] In particular, it is now possible to adapt production expenditure to the framework conditions within the framework of predictive production. For example, low-wear and cost-effective machining can be achieved with normal quality. If high-quality material plates are to be produced, it is possible to select knife rings with excellent production data or to deactivate the low-wear operating mode in order to obtain high-quality shredded material. For example, in this context it may also be possible to modify the chipper settings for more high-quality chips or shavings (certain preferred geometries of the chips or shavings) so that more high-quality material is produced, but under certain circumstances, at the same time, compared to other operating modes, more unusable or poor-quality material is produced, which can only be used in B- or C-quality material plates or in start-up operation.

[0052] For setting different operating modes on the chipper itself, the Cutting speed / rotational speed (drive, gear) the air flow or the air pressure in or on the chipper (extraction, fan) the throughput per time and / or the setting of the heavy material separator provided.

[0053] In addition to the measurement technology mentioned, measuring elements or systems can also be arranged in the area of the rotating parts, the knives, the knife ring, on the drive (torque absorption, current load).

[0054] A subsequent measurement of the chip quality produced can also be used for control purposes or incorporated into the control system of the chipper.

[0055] It is now also advantageously possible to prepare the chipper for the future, possibly even legally prescribed, proportions of waste wood in the raw material for the production of particleboard or oriented strand board (OSB). The chipper or control system can react automatically, if necessary, to the amount of waste wood that is usually mixed with the fresh wood and suggest sensible settings to the operator, particularly those generated from experience, or adjust them independently. For example, values relating to the proportion of waste wood in the total chipping quantity can be correlated with the degree of wear in order to use this value for predictive analysis for future production.

[0056] The invention has surprisingly discovered that each knife ring in a chipper behaves differently in terms of its throughput and energy consumption. This depends, among other things, on the state of wear and the selected settings. Since no detailed evaluation of performance data is carried out, optimal use remains a matter of experience. Despite the above findings, knife rings are nevertheless standardized and used as production-independent shredding tools.

[0057] In particular, it has been recognized that automated grinding or sharpening systems with optimized removal of the knives to be restored do indeed optimize wear on knife rings (only as much is ground off as necessary after a prior measurement). However, depending on the steel quality of the knives, different wear patterns occur over time, which may require earlier replacement or prevent sufficient shredding production and quality for the planned period.

[0058] In addition to the knives, counter knives, and possibly the clamping plates for the knives, all of which are subject to wear, there are also wear plates on the inner circumference of the knife rings. These act as a guide surface to define the knife projection and thus the cutting depth, and thus the chip thickness. This also results in wear that must be regularly checked and, if necessary, resharpened, especially in the case of one-sided wear across the width. The need for replacement should also be regularly checked and considered, or implemented in the control system.

[0059] The invention now makes it possible to correlate the quality or properties of the material to be machined with the requirements of current or future production. It is also now possible to optimize the utilization of the machining device based on the resources available for the tools, and if necessary, also in correlation with the existing or incoming materials to be machined. For example, machining can be carried out at an early stage with a higher throughput if, during forward-looking production, it is foreseeable that thicker material plates will require more material per unit of time. Throughput peaks with high wear can be intercepted in good time. The machining operator himself and the necessary knife ring are protected, and costly energy peaks are also avoided.

[0060] The invention also has the advantage that, based on the combined measurement data, statements can be made about the machining quality and at what point, in the case of newly ground tools, the machined material no longer meets A-quality standards, but is only suitable for the production of lower-quality material plates or as a filler for high-quality plates. With this type of machining management, the system control system can sort the machined material into different bins or store it in other ways to accommodate the planned use.

[0061] Demand-based operating modes can now also be set to accommodate specific circumstances. For example, if downstream parts of the production plant are shut down, the system can switch to an energy- and tool-saving operating mode to shred material for storage. Alternatively, it can also be switched to a demanding maximum throughput if bottlenecks in the machined material arise due to delivery difficulties or downtimes in the material processing.

[0062] This now makes it possible to intelligently link or evaluate data across the entire system, particularly in connection with the machining area. Previously, such efforts focused solely on the forming line, press, and finishing areas, and the machining area was viewed as a "separate" production island optimized for cutting tool wear. This now enables a direct link between the machining area, or rather the machining operators' settings, and the processing (screening, gluing), the forming line, the pressing line, or the press, and the finishing line. In particular, factors such as press parameters and panel quality can be incorporated into the operation of the machining area, or rather, the machining operators, within the meaning of machining management during the production of machined material.

[0063] It is advantageous if the following sensors or measuring sensors are introduced in the area of the machining area or the machinist. Measurement of the feed volume, e.g. via the fill level of the vibrating chute, load on the screw bearing, etc. Measurement of the material distribution via sensors in the knife ring Detection and assignment of the cutting tools or the knife ring, e.g. with markings or RFID on the knife ring Carrying out an online chip analysis after machining Pressure or volume measurements on or in the chipper or the extraction line for the air flow or in the ejection box of the flowing air Recording / transmission of the bulk density, moisture, if necessary automated through online measurement in the machining area Recording of setting parameters and wear status (knife protrusion, gap rotor / MR, discharge gap, etc.) Back maintenance of data, e.g. from the preparation of the cutting tools (if necessary a sharpening robot, or a storage area for cutting tools or accessories - clamping plates, knife holders...) Equipped with frequency-controlled drives for individual variation of the cutting parameters and recording of the necessary drive currents.

[0064] Through intelligent data collection and evaluation, optimized operation could be enabled or suggested to the operator or adjusted (semi-)automatically.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, an intelligent, self-learning, or algorithm-based control system could be provided. This can define variable service lives depending on the knife rings and each individual chipper, as well as adjust throughput and cutting speed, for example. This is particularly advantageous when several chippers are networked and operated in parallel in a large-scale industrial plant.

[0066] It has been found that different knife rings in different chippers produce different results and therefore an advantageous selection of the knife ring / chipper combinations, particularly based on the experience gained from previous production runs, would be beneficial.

[0067] Different settings on the chippers used in the area can also be used to optimize the required target chip quality, which in turn can be stored differently via the silos mentioned above.

[0068] In a further preferred embodiment, the operators could be given suggestions for adjusting the blade projection or instructions for changing wearing parts.

[0069] Alternatively or cumulatively, data can be exchanged with the cutting tool reconditioning system. For example, which knife ring should be ground or set up with which knife projection, clearance angle, and the like. This is particularly advantageous when knife rings or chippers from different manufacturers or third-party manufacturers with their own operating specifications are installed in one system.

[0070] Through consistent data acquisition from the machining area, it is possible to optimize the entire system and, vice versa, also optimize the machining area.

[0071] Data acquisition can serve as the basis for a self-learning and self-optimizing system. A data and control technology link between the machining area (machinists) and storage / maintenance (sharpening robots) is possible. Adaptive maintenance can be introduced or improved at the same time. This also results in enormous time savings in data collection and evaluation, for example, during testing with new components.

[0072] In particular, various parameters in the machining area or on the cutters can be controlled, for example the speed of the knife rings, the distribution insert, the air volume in the separator, etc.

[0073] The invention defines reprocessing as, for example, the restoration of worn knives or knife rings for repeated use. Another type of reprocessing, especially in the area of reprocessing a plant for the production of material boards, includes the process-technical treatment of the material, for example, chips or fibers, by screening, drying, gluing, dyeing, storage, and the like—that is, the necessary preparatory work for spreading and pressing the material into a mat.

[0074] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention (PR), it should be noted that a control system for the machining area or a control system for the chipper is suitable for controlling and regulating the chipping performance, throughput, quality, and the like, preferably depending on or by transmitting specifications from the central system control system. In particular, it is provided that the machining area or chipper has a self-learning system based on neural networks, fuzzy control, or alternative methods or algorithms, preferably within the control system for the machining area and / or the chipper itself.This makes it possible to operate the machining area or machining center "automatically" with regard to the various setting options in a kind of isolated solution of the system, while the higher-level system control essentially only establishes specifications such as the required throughput, quality of the chips or planned maintenance intervals.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment to explain the understanding of the invention, the machining area or machinist receives a specification to produce a certain target quantity of chips in the next 8 hours.

[0076] This specification is checked within the control system of the cutting area or the chipper and determined that the stability for the quality or quantity can no longer be met within these 8 hours. The control system will either return an error message or automatically adjust the operating mode within the 8 hours and implement a maintenance interval. To achieve this, it would be conceivable to increase throughput, taking into account the increased wear and the remaining stability of the blades, perform a shutdown for changing or servicing the blades, and thus meet the target specification over the remaining operating time, possibly again with increased performance.

[0077] This would make it possible to disentangle the computing power or self-learning models based on empirical values or self-learning topics and to divide them between the machining area and the overall system control, so that essentially and preferably only specifications are transmitted from the system control and the machining can operate independently and / or self-learning.

[0078] Specifications can include, in particular: throughput, chip sizes, chip quality, type of board production, A or B grades, sample or trial operation, or similar.

[0079] The adjustment options for the chipper focus on factors such as heavy material separation, the flow velocity of the incoming material at the blades, the distribution of the material at the blades, etc. These factors, as well as the chipper adjustment options already mentioned above, significantly influence various output parameters such as wear, consumption, quality, and throughput and are particularly suitable for self-learning or predictive adjustment.

[0080] In addition, with a suitable system or setup, or with one or more cutting machines connected to one or more grinding robots, or with storage / storage / stocking of knives, knife packs, and knife rings, these can be kept on hand and / or used accordingly to set an operating mode. A grinding robot can, if necessary, generate different knife angles and / or different knife projections.

[0081] In a system comprising several chippers, the chippers can also be set / operated differently in order to obtain a predetermined chip mix for production.

[0082] Of course, it can also be provided that in the event of a machinist failing or requiring maintenance, other machinists will take over its capacity, quality, or the like.

[0083] Alternatively or cumulatively, the following settings can also be used for different operating modes: Different chip sizes in the chipper's inlet. Different material types, such as the ratio of fresh wood to recycled wood, the mix of fresh wood (tree species, hardwood, softwood, etc.). The amount of chips / chips in the inlet, usually based on 100% of the possible throughput, for example, 80% corresponds to low-wear operation. Different drive / chipper speeds, especially to operate the chippers in energy-saving mode, for example, with optimal drive efficiency or at peak performance for maximum throughput and maximum speed or torque. A frequency converter for the chipper's high-performance motors would be particularly suitable for this.

[0084] In particular, the system that should be suitable for controlling or regulating the plant's production with respect to the machining area and / or the machinist should be emphasized here. The literal reference to the machining area can, in particular, refer to the above-mentioned unbundling of the control problem or, in the case of simple systems, simply the self-learning and predictive component for the machining area / machinist, if specifications from the plant control system are transmitted to the machining area / machinist for automatic implementation.

[0085] In this respect, it would be advantageous if part or all of the machining management, viewed as a computer-implemented process, were located in the control system or computer-implemented in or on the machinist or the control system of the machining area and implemented there. (PR)

[0086] Further advantageous measures and embodiments of the subject matter of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description with the drawings.

[0087] The following illustrations should not be viewed as specific case studies, but rather contain some general hints and solutions to the problems. Individual sentences should be viewed as individual features.

[0088] In particular, the controls are not to be understood as exhaustive or limiting. The controls can be implemented on the individual machines and / or in the central control room. The arrangement and implementation, or their redundancy, will be planned and adapted by a specialist during the design of the system or the individual machines.

[0089] They show: Fig. 1 shows a section through a machining device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a possible system for producing material plates, essentially from machining to stacking, with representation of possible controls for carrying out machining management, and Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a possible control or regulation structure with its active connections.

[0090] In Figure 11 shows a chipper 8 with an upstream heavy material separator 4. Material to be shredded is fed into a feed device onto a vibrating trough 1 and conveyed by it with the help of one or more unbalanced motors 2. The material is guided over a magnetic roller 3, which separates ferromagnetic impurities from the material falling from the vibrating trough 1. The material flow 19 falls into a heavy material separator 4, where it is guided in a cascade over adjustable guide plates 5. A fan 6 introduces an air flow 20 from the bottom into the heavy material separator 4 and redirects it via a guide plate 7 in such a way that the material falling from the guide plates 5 onto the guide plate 7 is pressed upwards along the guide plate 7. The speed of the air flow 20 is set so that, depending on the specific weight, impurities such as stones or similar are removed.cannot be moved upwards along the guide plate 7 by the air flow 20, but instead fall downwards out of the heavy-material separator 4. This air flow separates the material and separates heavy particles. Typically, these guide plates 5 and 7 are adjusted once and then left as they are for production. However, in the context of the invention, they are to be designed to be adjustable via suitable actuators (not shown).

[0091] The material captured by the laterally incoming air stream 20 is blown into the actual chipper 8. This chipper 8 has a knife ring 9 with a plurality of radially inward-facing knives whose cutting edges extend essentially coaxially to the central axis. The knife ring 9 can either be stationary or rotated about its central axis by a corresponding drive (not shown). Arranged coaxially to this knife ring 9 is a rotor 10 which is set in rotation via a shaft 11 and a drive (not shown). If necessary, the direction of rotation of this rotor 10 is preferably opposite to the direction of rotation of the knife ring 9. Depending on the chipper, this can also be the other way around.

[0092] On the radial outside, this rotor 10 has rotor blades 12 that extend parallel to the blades of the blade ring 9 and run close to these blades, so that the rotor blades 12 chip material passing the blades. The chips thus formed are removed from the chipper 8 through a discharge chute 13 located below the blade ring 9 or are otherwise discharged, and if necessary, are additionally assisted by the air flow.

[0093] Preferably, an ejection box (not shown) is provided in the exit area of the chipper, which collects the falling chips and extracts the air at the top. Pressure or air volume measurements can particularly preferably be performed here to provide the control or regulation system with measured values.

[0094] In the example shown here, an insert 15 in the form of a distribution rotor for evenly distributing the material flow 19 along the knife edges is located in the central area 14 of the rotor 10. The insert can be driven via a gear via the central shaft 11 or, as in the exemplary embodiment, has its own motor that drives the insert 15 via its own shaft.

[0095] The chipper 8 is divided into various sections. Shown at the top is the feed area A for the material input, which, based on the invention, is equipped with additional sensors. The separator B section can also be equipped with additional sensors, in particular a scale for the separated material per unit of time, in order to assess the quality of the incoming material. In particular, this can be used to determine or estimate the mineral content in the material, since experience has shown that the separator B section cannot separate all mineral foreign matter. Based on the amount of foreign matter separated, an initial estimate of the expected wear is conceivable.

[0096] Additional measuring techniques and control devices or actuators are also useful in the machining area C and in the transport area D downstream of the chipper 8. For example, a cyclone for dust separation can be installed in the transport area before arrival in the further area of the plant E, which discharges the dust into a bunker 18 before reaching the plant E area.

[0097] According to the invention, the chipper is provided with a controller 17 capable of implementing various operating modes, preferably an energy-saving mode, a mode that minimizes or maximizes throughput, a low-wear mode, and / or a mode that affects chip quality. For this purpose, the controller 17 is capable of processing a large number of data from the areas A, B,C, D, and E. At the same time, it is capable of sending feedback or control impulses for parameter adjustment to the same and / or other areas A, B, C, D, and E.

[0098] In Figure 2 A schematic representation of a possible system 35 for producing material plates is shown. The system essentially extends from a machining area 40 to the stacking area 31 in the final production line after the pressing section 26 of a press 32. This machining area can also be longer or larger depending on the application if coarse chopper or other machining or selecting devices are also necessary.

[0099] Top right is Figure 3A schematic representation of possible control systems and their functional connections for implementing machining management is provided. The control systems can be implemented on a departmental, plant-specific, or on the individual machines themselves. Preferably, they are implemented redundantly with a central control room (not shown) within the plant. Cloud-based solutions for documentation or data processing are also conceivable.

[0100] Following the production process of a material board 30 in plant 35, the base material is first stored, inspected, and pre-sorted in a wood yard or in silos. Typically, it is also pre-shredded and then, in a manner adapted to production, reduced to the specified size in a chipping area 40 using chippers 8 and fed to a screen 21, which separates the fractions. The material can then be temporarily stored in bunkers 22 and, if necessary, fed to a gluing process. Other process steps for preparing the material can also be provided here. Finally, the material is spread in a forming section 25 to form a pressed material mat using one or more spreading devices 24 on a forming belt 41 and possibly compacted using a pre-press 42.Subsequently, pressing takes place in a press 32 along a pressing line 26, with a sheet strand 28 being transferred from the pressed material mat from the press 32 to the finishing area 27. There, it is divided into material sheets 30 using a diagonal saw 29 and stacked in a stacker 31. In the finishing area, a transport device 37 is usually arranged connecting the individual machines, usually in the form of a roller conveyor or conveyor.

[0101] System 35 can consist of a variety of other devices and areas; for the sake of clarity, only the essential and most common areas have been mentioned. Pressing can also be carried out in a cycle press. It is also not mandatory that a press mat be produced on a forming belt if cycled production is planned, for example, with a multi-opening press.

[0102] After Figure 3To implement or adapt a comprehensive network, various controllers or areas or individual machines of the system are networked together. For example, a controller 39 is provided for the machining area 40, particularly for implementing machining management, which can control several machinists 8 or their controllers 17. To develop closed-loop control systems, the controllers can also report data, measured values, or the like back to the controller 39.

[0103] In a particularly preferred embodiment, Figure 2 In addition to the chippers 8, an optional storage area 34 for the cutting tools, here knife rings 9, is also provided in the cutting area 40. In the storage area 34, the knife rings 9 are preferably grouped and transferred manually or automatically to the chippers 8 depending on the required application.

[0104] In a further preferred embodiment, preferably with a bearing 34, a maintenance and / or adjustment device for the cutting tools is provided, here a sharpening robot 36. The sharpening robot 36 will have its own control (not shown) for the automated processes, but can simultaneously receive instructions and report data via the control 39 of the chipper management.

[0105] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machining area is Figure 3 connected or networked with the control system 33 of the system to carry out predictive production.

[0106] For this purpose, a control system 33 is arranged as a kind of comprehensive or higher-level control system for the system 35, which is preferably operatively connected to all the different areas, such as the machining area 40 or directly to the control system 39 there, the individual controls 17 of the machining unit 8, the storage 34 and / or the sharpening robot 36. The structure and control system layout should be provided as an example, since there are a multitude of different solutions as to which control system is arranged where and how in the hierarchy. The information flow design is preferably as per Figure 3 running vertically and / or horizontally or diagonally, but can also skip steps.

[0107] The same applies to the processing area 38 and the individual machines shown therein, such as screen 21, bunker 22 and / or gluing unit 23. Due to the purely schematic representation, transport devices, locks and other functionally connected plant components are not listed, but may be present and connected to the control system.

[0108] In addition, the central control 33, preferably arranged in the control room of the system 35, can be operatively connected to the controls or system components of the forming section 25, the pressing section 26 and / or the final production 27.

[0109] Not shown is the data exchange with the typically required quality management system or the usual laboratory facilities. However, in another embodiment, this can be linked to one or more of the proposed features 1623. Reference symbol list 1623: 1 vibrating trough 26 Press line 2 Unbalance motor 27 Final production 3 Magnetic roller 28 Plate string 4 Heavy-duty separator 29 Diagonal saw 5 baffle 30 Material plate 6 fan 31 Stacking 7 baffle 32 press 8 Machinists 33 Control for 35 9 knife ring 34 Camp for 9 10 rotor 35 Attachment 11 Wave 36 Sharpening robot 12 rotor blade 37 Transport device 13 Drop chute 38 Processing 14 Central area 39 steering 15 Mission (Cutting machine management) 16 Switch 40 Machining area 17 steering 41 Forming tape 18 bunker 42 Pre-press 19 Material flow 20 Airflow 21 Sieve A Feeding area 22 bunker B Separator area 23 Gluing C Machining area 24 Spreading devices D Transport sector 25 Forming section E Plant area

Claims

1. Installation for the continuous production of material panels with a press, wherein at least one forming section (25) for producing a press mat, a press (32) for pressing the press mat into a material panel (30) and a finishing section (27) for stacking (31) are arranged in the installation (35) with a controller (33) for the mentioned parts of the installation (35), wherein a flaking region (40) with a controller (39) and / or at least one flaker (8), preferably a knife-ring flaker, having a controller (17) is arranged in the installation (35), characterized in that the controller (33) of the installation (35) is operatively connected to the controller (39) for the flaking region (40) and / or to the controller (17) for the flaker (8), and wherein the controller (39) for the flaking region (40) and / or the controller (17) of the flaker (8) is suitable for implementing at least two operating modes.

2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller (17) of the flaker (8) is suitable for implementing an energy-saving mode, an operating mode in which the throughput is minimized and / or maximized, an operating mode in which there is little wear and / or an operating mode relating to the flake quality.

3. Installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the controller (33) of the installation (35) is suitable for influencing the controller (17, 39) of the flaking region (40) and / or the flaker (8) as a function of the current or future planned production, in particular in order to switch between the operating modes.

4. Installation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sharpening robot (36) is associated with the flaker (8), which is suitable for preparing the cutting tools of the flaker and / or in that a store (34) for storing the cutting tools is associated with the flaker (8), preferably for the storage or use of cutting tools for different operating modes.

5. Installation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a controller (39) or a computer program product is arranged in the installation (35) to form a flaking management, preferably as a computer-implemented method, which is preferably suitable for processing current and / or empirical values from the flaking region (40), the region of preparation (38) and / or a flaker (8) for self-optimization, in particular of the various operating modes.

6. Installation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a controller (39) is arranged in the flaking region (40), which is suitable for processing current or empirical values from the flaking region (40) or a flaker (8) in conjunction with quality characteristics of associated produced material panels (30) and in particular for developing suggestions for setting the parameters of the installation (35) or of the flaking region (40) or for improving these.

7. Installation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a system for forming a flaking management is arranged in the installation (35), which system comprises at least one device for storing and / or evaluating data, for example the measured values, the parameters and / or the operating states, wherein the data from the flaking region (40), a flaker (8), a region of the preparation (38) of the material, the forming section (25), the pressing section (26), the press (32), the finishing section (27) and / or from the quality management for the products, for example laboratory data, are stored and / or evaluated.

8. Installation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to form a flaking management system, the cutting tools in the flaking region (40) are marked and arranged to be recognizable and / or traceable by corresponding reading and / or writing means during their use or their processing in the installation parts, preferably in the flaker (8), in the store (34) and / or in the sharpening robot (36).

9. Method for operating an installation for the continuous production of material panels by means of a press, wherein a press mat is produced in the installation (35) in a forming section (25), the mat is pressed in a press (1) to form a material panel (30) and the panel is stacked in a finishing section (27), wherein these parts of the installation (35) are operated by a controller (33), and a flaking region (40) and / or at least one flaker (8), preferably a knife-ring flaker, are controlled in the installation (35) by controllers (17, 39), characterized in that the controller (30) of the installation (35) is operatively connected to the controller (39) for the flaking region (40) and / or to the controller (17) for the flaker (8) and the flaking region (40) can be set by the controller (39) and / or the flaker (8) can be set by the controller (17) in various operating modes depending on the production or the system modes.

10. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that an energy-saving mode, an operating mode in which the throughput is minimized and / or maximized, an operating mode in which wear is reduced and / or an operating mode in which the chip quality is affected can be set as the operating mode.

11. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the controller (30) of the installation (35) acts on the controller (17, 39) of the flaking region (40) and / or the flaker (8) as a function of the current or future planned production.

12. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the controller (33) of the installation (35) influences the preparation of the cutting tools of the flaker and / or a store (34) for storing the cutting tools and the selection or use of the cutting tools, preferably for the storage or use of cutting tools for different operating modes, as a function of the current or future planned production.

13. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that a flaking management is used or carried out which is preferably suitable for processing current values and / or empirical values from the flaking region (40), the region of preparation (38) of the material and / or a flaker (8) for self-optimization, in particular of the various operating modes.

14. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that a controller (39) is used in the flaking region (40), which is suitable for processing current values or empirical values from the flaking region (40) or a flaker (8) in conjunction with quality characteristics of associated produced material panels (30) and in particular for developing suggestions for setting the parameters of the installation (35) or the flaking region (40) or for improving these.

15. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that data and measured values are stored, processed and / or evaluated for carrying out a flaking management, for example measured values, parameters and / or operating states, wherein particularly preferably the data from the flaking region (40), a flaker (8), the preparation (38), the forming section (25), the press section (26), the press (32), the finishing section (27) and / or from the quality management for the products, for example laboratory data, are stored and / or evaluated.

16. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the cutting tools, the knife rings (9), the flakers (8) and / or the knives are marked and can be registered unambiguously with respect to one another and / or to their empirical values and / or measurement data, and can be recognized in the individual installation components, such as the store (34), sharpening robot (36) and / or flaker (8), by means of suitable writing and / or reading means by the receiving or delivering individual machines and are suitable for data adaptation or transfer.

17. Flaker having cutting tools for comminuting material in the course of the production of material panels, further comprising a feed device for the material, an optional heavy-material separator (4), a drive, a discharge device for the comminuted material and a controller (17) for the flaker (8), characterized in that sensors for generating measured values are arranged on the feed device, the heavy-material separator (4), on the discharge device and / or for the material itself and these are operatively connected to the controller (17) for evaluating the measured values, wherein, for the control or regulation of the flaker (8), the controller (17) is operatively connected to actuating drives and / or adjustable machine elements on the flaker (8), in particular to the feed device, the heavy-material separator (4), the discharge device for the material and / or the drive of the flaker (8).

18. Flaker according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sensors or actuating means or actuators that generate measured values are arranged on the cutting tools and / or on a distribution system for the material on the cutting tools.

19. Flaker according to one of the preceding flaker claims, characterized in that the controller (17) for the flaker (8) or the controller (39) for a plurality of flakers (8) is suitable for setting at least two different operating modes, preferably an energy-saving operating mode, an operating mode in which the throughput is minimized or maximized, a low-wear operating mode or an operating mode relating to the chip quality.

20. Flaker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the flaker (8) - a weighing device for impurities from the heavy-material separator, - a device for determining the type of wood, the mixing ratio and / or the chip sizes before or after the flaker (8), - a device for determining the vibration or noise development at the flaker (8), - a weight or volume measurement in the feed device, - measuring devices or strain gauges in the flaker (8) or on the cutting tools, - sensors on the drive for the tool system, - reading and / or writing sensors for electronic features on the cutting tool or knife ring (9), for example RFID, in the flaker (8), in the store (34) and / or in the sharpening robot (36) and / or - pressure or air flow sensors in or on the flaker and / or in the ejector box for the shredded material are arranged and, if present, are operatively connected to the controller (17, 39).

21. System for carrying out a flaking management system in the course of the production of material panels in an installation (35), comprising a data processing device for executing a computer program product for storing and / or evaluating data, wherein data from the flaking region (40), a flaker (8), the preparation (38), the forming section (25), the pressing section (26), the press (32), the finishing section (27) and / or from the quality management for the products, for example laboratory data, are stored and / or evaluated and, preferably in a forward-looking or self-learning manner, are used to control or regulate the production of the installation (35) with regard to the flaking region (40) and / or the flaker (8).

22. System according to the preceding claim, in that the cutting tools of the flakers (8) are registered and marked and are suitable to be recognized by the store (34), by the maintenance and sharpening system and by the flakers (8) by suitable means.