Method for adjusting the contact force of a granulator, computer program, controller, granulator, and method for granulating a strand of material - Patents.com
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024532744
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-12-02
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing granulation devices face challenges in adjusting the contact force of cutters to maintain high cutting quality, prevent wear, and avoid lubrication issues, as manual settings fail to respond to process parameter changes.
A method and system for adjusting the contact force using hydrodynamic, pneumatic, or mechanical devices, controlled by a computer program, to optimize cutter pressure based on cutter characteristics, material properties, and process parameters, including hydrodynamic and hydrostatic forces calculations.
This approach optimizes cutter pressure, reducing wear and improving granule quality while minimizing machine downtime and operational costs.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the contact force of at least one cutter of a granulating device for granulating material strands, such as plastic material strands. The present invention also relates to a corresponding computer program product or computer program, a controller and a granulating device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for granulating material strands. [Background technology]
[0002] The document DE 10322610 A1 discloses a pelletizing device with a perforated plate and a cutter head, which has a number of pelletizing cutters that rest downstream against the perforated plate and are driven in rotation by a drive motor so that the material strands passing through the perforated plate are cut into pellets, the pelletizing cutters necessarily being pressed against the perforated plate with a contact force.
[0003] The position of the granulator cutter relative to the hole plate and the level of the contact force, especially the contact pressure of the granulator cutter, must be set precisely to achieve a high cutting quality and minimize wear. If the contact force or pressure is too high, the granulator cutter will wear too much and the hole plate will wear out. If the contact force or pressure is too low, a lubricating film will form on the hole plate, which will significantly reduce the required granule quality and make it necessary to switch off the machine if the quality is too poor. The quality of the granules therefore depends on the correct selection of the cutting parameters of the granulator.
[0004] Usually the contact force or contact pressure is set manually and kept constant during operation. The problem is that individual process parameters can change during operation. Manual settings cannot automatically react to these changes. Lack of adjustment or operational errors during operation can lead to damage to the granulating blades or hole plates and fluctuations in the quality of the granulate. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The invention is based on the problem of functionally improving the method as mentioned at the beginning for adjusting the contact force.Furthermore, the invention is based on the problem of structurally and / or functionally improving the computer program product or computer program as mentioned at the beginning, the controller as mentioned at the beginning and the granulating device as mentioned at the beginning.Furthermore, the invention is based on the problem of functionally improving the method for granulating material strands as mentioned at the beginning.
[0006] It is therefore, inter alia, an object of the present invention to provide a method for adjusting a contact force and a granulating device, which makes it possible to reduce or eliminate the problems presented in connection with the prior art.
[0007] These problems are solved by a method having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, these problems are solved by a computer program product or a computer program having the features of claim 14 and a control system having the features of claim 15. Furthermore, the problems are solved by a granulation device having the features of claim 16 and a method having the features of claim 18. Advantageous and / or further embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0008] The method can adjust and / or act on the contact force of at least one cutter of a granulator. The granulator can be designed and / or intended for granulating strands of material, such as plastic material strands. The granulator can be an underwater granulator. The granulator can have a hole plate. The at least one cutter can be a granulation cutter. The granulator can have a plurality of cutters, such as granulation cutters. The granulator can have a force generating device. The force generating device can be designed to generate and / or provide a contact force and / or a contact pressure. The force generating device can be designed to press the at least one cutter against the hole plate of the granulator with a contact force and / or a contact pressure. The force-generating device can be a fluid-dynamic device, such as a hydraulic device, a gas-based device, such as a pneumatic device, a hydropneumatic device, an electronic device, a mechanical device or an electromechanical device. The force-generating device can have a drive, such as a fluid-dynamic drive, a gas-based drive, a hydropneumatic drive, an electronic drive or an electromechanical drive, such as a linear drive or a servo drive. The hydraulic device can be a hydraulic assembly and / or a hydraulic assembly and / or a hydraulic unit. The hydraulic device can have at least one piston. The at least one piston can be displaceably supported in a cylinder. The at least one piston can be pressurized and / or displaced by hydraulic fluids. The hydraulic device can be controlled such that a contact force and / or a contact pressure is set and / or with which the at least one cutter is pressed against the hole plate.The at least one piston can be displaced in particular to achieve a contact force and / or a contact pressure.
[0009] The method may include the following steps: presetting the cutter contact force. The cutter contact force may be pre-set or pre-set as a target value. The cutter contact force and / or the target value of the cutter contact force may depend on the characteristics and / or number of cutters and / or the characteristics of the material to be granulated and / or other process parameters. The characteristics of the cutter may include the material characteristics of the cutter, and / or the level of sharpness of the cutter, and / or the attack angle of the cutter.
[0010] The method may include the following steps: determining a contact force based on a pre-set contact force and / or, for example, determined hydrodynamic forces.
[0011] The method may include the steps of: providing the determined contact force to adjust the contact force present in the granulation device.
[0012] The contact force can be a hydrodynamic force, such as a contact force and / or a hydraulic force. The contact force can be the difference between a forward force, e.g., axial, and a reverse force, e.g., axial. The force generating device can be designed to generate and / or provide a forward force and / or a reverse force.
[0013] The method may include the following steps: providing at least one parameter, for example a hydrodynamic parameter, of a force generating device, for example a hydraulic device. The method may include the following steps: calculating a pressure, such as a contact pressure (Anpressdruck) and / or a fluid pressure (Hydraulikdruck), based on the provided and / or determined contact force and / or the provided at least one parameter, for example a hydrodynamic parameter, of the force generating device. The method may include the following steps: providing a calculated pressure, such as a contact pressure and / or a fluid pressure, in particular as a new target value, for adjusting a pressure, such as a contact force and / or a hydraulic pressure, present in the granulator (100). The calculated pressure, such as a contact pressure and / or a fluid pressure, may be a target value, such as a target pressure and / or a target contact pressure and / or a target fluid pressure. The calculated pressure, such as a contact pressure and / or a fluid pressure, may be, for example, an axial forward pressure of a force generating device, in particular a hydraulic device. The calculated pressure may be a target forward pressure of a force generating device, in particular a hydraulic device. The at least one parameter, such as a hydrodynamic parameter, can be a first area, such as a piston area and / or a total piston area, of the force generating device, in particular a hydrodynamic device, assigned to a calculated pressure, such as a contact force and / or a fluid pressure. The at least one parameter, such as a hydrodynamic parameter, can be, for example, an axial back pressure of the force generating device, in particular a hydrodynamic device. The at least one parameter, such as a hydrodynamic parameter, can be a second surface, such as a piston surface and / or a total piston surface, of the force generating device, in particular a hydrodynamic device, assigned to a back pressure. The force generating device, in particular a hydrodynamic device, can have a plurality, for example two, three or more pistons and / or associated cylinders. The total piston area can be the sum of all piston areas. The piston area can be understood as the cross-sectional area of the piston. The contact force can be the result and / or the sum of all forces, such as forward forces and / or back forces, and / or pressures, such as forward pressures and / or back pressures, acting on the piston area and / or the total piston area. The contact pressure can be defined by the contact force.For example, the contact pressure can be the differential pressure between the forward pressure and the reverse pressure. The forward force can be defined and / or calculated by the forward pressure and / or by an area allocated to the forward pressure, such as the piston area and / or the total piston area. The reverse force can be defined and / or calculated by the reverse pressure and / or by an area allocated to the reverse pressure, such as the piston area and / or the total piston area.
[0014] Unless otherwise stated or clear from the context, the designation "axial direction" refers to the direction of extension of the axis of rotation of at least one cutter and / or cutter head and / or the direction of movement of at least one actuator, such as a piston of a force generating device, in particular a hydraulic device. Unless otherwise stated or clear from the context, the designations "forward" and "reverse" refer to directions along the axis of rotation or direction of movement. A "forward" direction may correspond to a direction towards the hole plate, e.g., a feed direction of at least one cutter. A "reverse" direction may correspond to a direction away from the hole plate, e.g., the opposite direction to the forward direction.
[0015] The backward pressure can be detected by a sensor. The backward pressure can be a detected actual value. The first area allocated to a pressure, such as a contact pressure and / or a fluid pressure, in particular a forward pressure, can be preset or can be determined. The first area allocated to a pressure, such as a contact pressure and / or a fluid pressure, in particular a forward pressure, can be a variable that depends on the size of the granulator and / or the size of the at least one actuator and / or piston, for example a surface area and / or a cross-sectional area. The second area allocated to the backward pressure can be predetermined or can be determined. The second area allocated to the backward pressure can be a size, such as an area and / or a cross-sectional area, that depends on the size of the granulator and / or the at least one actuator and / or piston.
[0016] A pressure, such as a contact pressure and / or a fluid pressure, particularly a forward pressure, can be calculated based on a first area allocated to the contact pressure and / or the fluid pressure, particularly a forward pressure, and / or a second area allocated to the reverse pressure and / or the backward pressure. A product of the backward pressure and the second area allocated to the backward pressure can be formed or calculated.
[0017] The method may include the steps of: determining a hydrodynamic force, e.g., an axial compressive force; the hydrodynamic force has been or can be generated by rotation of the at least one cutter; the hydrodynamic force can act on the at least one cutter in a direction towards the hole plate, e.g., in a forward direction;
[0018] The hydrodynamic forces can be or have been calculated or detected by a sensor. The hydrodynamic forces can be or have been calculated and / or estimated and / or determined based on a rotational speed, for example a cutter rotational speed and / or a cutter head rotational speed.
[0019] The rotational speed can be detected or determined by a sensor as an actual value, such as an actual rotational speed. The rotational speed can be preset or determined as a target value, such as a target rotational speed. The rotational speed can be detected or determined by a sensor as an actual value and furthermore the rotational speed can be preset or determined as a target value. The rotational speed can first be preset or determined as a target value and then the resulting rotational speed can be detected or determined by a sensor as an actual value. The hydrodynamic forces can be calculated and / or estimated and / or determined based on the detected actual rotational speed. The rotational speed can be the rotational speed of the at least one cutter and / or cutter head about the rotational axis. The rotational speed can be the rotational speed of a drive for rotating the at least one cutter and / or cutter head about the rotational axis. The target rotational speed can be preset or determined in the drive. The target rotational speed can be input or determined, for example, by an operator. The target rotational speed can be input, for example, as an initial input. The target rotational speed can be input or determined, for example, by an operator, as an initial target rotational speed.
[0020] The rotational speed preset as a target value, for example the target rotational speed, can be calculated or made. The calculation of the rotational speed preset as a target value, for example the target rotational speed, can be made on the basis of a throughput value, such as a material throughput value, and / or the number of granules, and / or a correction factor and / or the number of cutters and / or the number of holes in the hole plate. The throughput value can define the throughput of the granulated material. The throughput value can be a throughput in kilograms per hour. The throughput value can be a current throughput and / or a throughput detected, for example, by a sensor. The throughput value can be entered or made, for example, by an operator. The number of granules can define or be the number of granules and / or the number of pellets per gram. In addition to or instead of the number of granules, a defined number of granules and / or a number of pellets can be used, in particular to calculate the rotational speed preset as a target value. The number of granules can be the number of pellets. The number of granules can be entered, for example, by an operator. The number of pellets can be empirically determined or made. The number of granules can be empirically determined or made. The granule count can be a current and / or granule count detected, for example, by a sensor. The granule count can be based on previously performed measurements. The cutter count can correspond to the number of cutters arranged and / or installed in the cutter head. The cutter count can be entered or made, for example, by an operator. The hole count can correspond to the hole count of a hole plate, in particular the hole count from which the material to be granulated emerges. The hole count can be entered or made, for example, by an operator. The correction factor can be pre-calculated and / or defined or made. The correction factor can be entered or made, for example, by an operator. The correction factor can be stored or made, for example, in a controller. The correction factor can be dependent on the number of openings, such as holes in a hole plate.
[0021] When calculating a preset rotation speed as a target value, for example a target rotation speed, a product of the throughput value and the number of pellets can be formed and / or calculated or can be used. When calculating a preset rotation speed as a target value, for example a target rotation speed, a product of the throughput value, the number of pellets and a correction factor can be formed and / or calculated or can be used. When calculating a preset rotation speed as a target value, for example a target rotation speed, a product of the number of cutters and the number of holes can be formed and / or calculated or can be used. When calculating a preset rotation speed as a target value, for example a target rotation speed, a product of the throughput value and the number of pellets can be divided by the product of the number of cutters and the number of holes, i.e. a division can be formed or can be used from both products. When calculating a preset rotation speed as a target value, for example a target rotation speed, a product of the throughput value, the number of pellets and a correction factor can be divided by the product of the number of cutters and the number of holes.
[0022] The hydrodynamic forces can be calculated and / or estimated and / or determined using a function, such as a polynomial function. The rotational speed, e.g. the rotational speed detected by a sensor as an actual value, e.g. the actual rotational speed, can be a variable and / or uncertainty of the function. The function can be a function of first, second, third, fourth or higher order. The function can have one or more coefficients. The one or more coefficients can be defined or determined by one or more parameters. Each coefficient can correspond to or be a parameter. The one or more parameters can be pre-determined or determined, e.g. empirically determined. The one or more parameters can be based on at least one data series determined in at least one operating mode and / or process mode of the granulation device. The one or more parameters can be determined or determined from at least one data series. The at least one data series can be an empirical, in particular an empirically determined, data series. The at least one data series can be formed or determined from average values. At least one data series can define and / or determine a trend curve and / or a trend function. The trend curve and / or trend function can be determined or made from at least one data series. One or more parameters can be determined or made from the trend curve and / or trend function. A plurality of data series can be detected or made, in particular in the same and / or different operating and / or process modes of the granulation device. One or more parameters can be determined or made from the plurality of data series.
[0023] The calculation of the contact force and / or pressure, e.g. contact pressure and / or fluid pressure and / or forward pressure, can be based on the fact that the cutter contact force is the sum of a contact force and a hydrodynamic force, e.g. hydrodynamic force. The cutter contact force can be the sum of all forces acting on the cutterhead. The contact force or pressure, e.g. contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure, can be defined and / or calculated by solving or transforming this equation accordingly. The contact force, e.g. hydrodynamic force, can be defined based on or by hydrodynamic parameters and / or has been or can be calculated with hydrodynamic parameters. The contact force, e.g. hydrodynamic force, can be based on or by and / or has been or can be calculated based on or by the contact force and / or fluid pressure and / or pressure, e.g. forward pressure, a first area assigned to this pressure, a second area assigned to the reverse pressure and / or reverse pressure. A contact force, such as a hydrodynamic force, is or can be defined by a contact force and / or a fluid pressure and / or a pressure, such as a forward pressure, and a first area assigned to the pressure, and / or a product of a backward pressure and a second area assigned to the backward pressure. A contact force, such as a hydrodynamic force, is or can be defined from a difference between a contact force and / or a fluid pressure and / or a pressure, such as a forward pressure, and a first area assigned to the pressure, and a product of the backward pressure and a second area assigned to the backward pressure.
[0024] The contact force can be determined based on the hydrostatic force. The determination of the contact force can be based on a preset cutter contact force, a determined hydrodynamic force, and a hydrostatic force. The hydrostatic force can be preset or can be determined. The hydrostatic force can be determined or can be determined based on a determined water pressure, e.g. detected by a sensor, and / or a predetermined pressure surface, e.g. The pressure area can be defined and / or calculated by a diameter, e.g. a seal diameter. The diameter can be an average diameter, e.g. an average seal diameter. The diameter can be, e.g., a diameter of a drive shaft of a drive device in the area of a seal, e.g. a mechanical seal and / or a seal of a mechanical seal, and / or a stuffing box packing. The drive shaft can define an axis of rotation. The drive shaft can be non-rotatably connected to the cutter head. When calculating the hydrostatic force, a product of the pressure area and the water pressure is formed or can be formed. The pressure area can be expressed as a square or a power of two. In other words, the product of the square of the pressure area and the water pressure is or can be formed. The product of the square of the pressure area and the water pressure is or can be multiplied by the value π / 4.
[0025] The calculation of pressures such as contact force and / or contact pressure and / or fluid pressure and / or forward pressure can be based on the cutter contact force being the sum of hydrodynamic, hydrokinetic and hydrostatic forces. The contact force or pressures such as contact pressure and / or fluid pressure and / or forward pressure can be defined and / or calculated by solving or transforming this equation accordingly.
[0026] The contact force can be determined based on the melt pressure. The determination of the contact force and / or pressure, such as the contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure, can be based on the preset cutter contact force, the determined hydrodynamic force and the melt pressure. The determination of the contact force and / or pressure, such as the contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure, can be based on the preset cutter contact force, the determined hydrodynamic force, hydrostatic force and the melt pressure. The melt pressure can depend on and / or be calculated or can be calculated by the melt pressure of the material melt caused by the extrusion device.
[0027] The calculation of the contact force and / or pressure, such as the contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure, can be based on the fact that the cutter contact force is the sum of a contact force, such as a hydrodynamic force, a hydrodynamic force, and a melt pressure. The calculation of the contact force and / or pressure, such as the contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure, can be based on the fact that the cutter contact force is the sum of a hydrodynamic force, a hydrodynamic force, a hydrostatic force, and a melt pressure. The contact force and / or pressure, such as the contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure, can be defined and / or calculated by solving or transforming this formula accordingly.
[0028] The calculation of pressures such as contact force and / or contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure can be performed automatically and / or repeatedly, for example during operation of the granulation device. For example, pressures such as contact force and / or contact pressure and / or hydraulic pressure and / or forward pressure can be calculated continuously and / or continuously. The calculation can also be performed and / or repeated at defined time intervals.
[0029] The method may include the following steps: providing a calculated pressure, such as a contact force and / or a hydraulic pressure and / or a forward pressure, of a force generating device, such as a hydraulic device, in order to adjust a pressure, such as a contact force and / or a hydraulic pressure and / or a forward pressure, present in the granulator and / or in the force generating device, such as a hydraulic device. The calculated pressure, such as a contact force and / or a hydraulic pressure and / or a forward pressure, of a force generating device, such as a hydraulic device, may be provided as a new target value, such as a target pressure, a target contact pressure, a target hydraulic pressure or a target forward pressure. The calculated pressure, such as a contact force and / or a hydraulic pressure and / or a forward pressure, of a force generating device, such as a hydraulic device, may be provided to a force generating device, such as a hydraulic device, as a target value, such as a forward pressure and / or a target forward pressure. In this way, a pressure, such as a contact pressure and / or a hydraulic pressure and / or a forward pressure, of a force generating device, such as a hydraulic device, may be adjusted. The calculated pressure, such as the contact pressure and / or the fluid pressure and / or the forward pressure of a force generating device, such as a hydraulic device, can be provided and / or adjusted automatically and / or repeatedly and / or continuously, for example during operation of the granulator. For example, the calculated pressure, such as the contact pressure and / or the hydraulic pressure and / or the forward pressure of a force generating device, such as a hydraulic device, can be provided and / or adjusted continuously and / or continuously. Also, the provision and / or adjustment can be performed and / or repeated at defined time intervals.
[0030] In particular the method for adjusting the contact force can be stored and / or implemented at least in part as a computer program in a computer, microcomputer, controller, electronic control and / or computing unit, control and / or computing device or storage medium. The computer program can be distributed in one or more storage media, controllers, control and / or computing units / devices or computers, etc.
[0031] The computer program product or computer program can cause an apparatus, such as a controller and / or a granulating apparatus, to execute the above-mentioned and / or below-mentioned methods, in particular the method for adjusting the contact force. The computer program product or computer program can include program code means for executing the above-mentioned and / or below-mentioned methods, in particular the method for adjusting the contact force, when the computer program product or computer program is executed on a processor. The computer program product or computer program can cause an apparatus, such as an electronic, controller and / or control and / or computing unit / instrument, control system, granulating apparatus, granulating apparatus such as underwater granulator and / or underwater granulating apparatus, processor or computer, to execute the above-mentioned and / or below-mentioned methods, in particular the method for adjusting the contact force. For this purpose, the computer program product or computer program can include a storage medium for storing the corresponding dataset and / or program code means and / or computer program and / or dataset and / or program.
[0032] The controller, such as a control unit or controller, can be for a pelletizing apparatus, such as an underwater pelletizing apparatus. The controller can be configured and intended for use in a pelletizing apparatus. The controller can include a microcomputer and / or a processor. The controller can comprise and / or be connected to one or more sensors. The controller can include a computer program product or computer program as described above and / or below. The controller can include a memory. The computer program product or computer program can be stored in the memory. The controller can be arranged and / or intended to carry out the methods described above and / or below, in particular for adjusting the contact force.
[0033] The granulator may be designed and / or intended for granulating material strands, such as plastic material strands. The granulator may be designed and / or intended for carrying out the processes described above and / or below, in particular for adjusting the contact force and / or for granulating the material strands. The granulator may be designed and / or driven and / or adjusted as described above and / or below. The granulator may have a controller as described above and / or below.
[0034] The granulator can be an underwater granulator. The granulator can have a hole plate. The hole plate can be useful and / or designed for producing a material strand. The granulator can have at least one cutter. The at least one cutter can be a granulation cutter. The granulator can have a number of cutters, such as a granulation cutter. The granulator can have a cutter head. The cutter head can have at least one cutter or a number of cutters. The cutter head can have at least one cutter wing. The cutter head can have a number of cutter wings, for example a number of cutter wings corresponding to the number of cutters. The at least one cutter or a number of cutters can be connected to the cutter head and / or its cutter wings, for example in a screw-type manner. The at least one cutter wing or a number of cutter wings can be connected to a shaft, such as a drive shaft, of a drive device. The cutter head can be used and / or designed for producing granules from the material strand. The cutter head can be arranged downstream of the hole plate. The granulator can have a drive device. The drive device may be configured and / or designed to drive the cutter head in rotation about the axis of rotation. The drive device may have a shaft, such as a drive shaft. The shaft may define an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation may be concentric or eccentric with respect to the hole plate. The granulator may have a granulation bonnet. The granulation bonnet may be one-piece, two-piece or multi-piece. The hole plate and the cutter head may be surrounded and / or at least partially or completely surrounded by the granulation bonnet. The granulation bonnet may be completely or partially filled with water. The granulator may have a water inlet pipe, in particular opening into the granulation bonnet. The granulator may have a water granule discharge pipe, in particular opening outside the granulation bonnet. The granulator may have a force generating device. The force generating device may be configured and / or designed to press one or more cutters against the hole plate with a contact force and / or contact pressure.The force generating device can be designed to move or displace one or more cutters, cutter heads and / or drives, for example in the longitudinal direction of the granulator and / or in the forward and / or reverse direction and / or in the direction of or along the axis of rotation. The force generating device can be designed and / or driven and / or adjusted as described above and / or below. The force generating device can be a fluid dynamic device, such as a hydraulic device, a gaseous device, such as a pneumatic device, a hydropneumatic device, an electronic device, a mechanical device or an electromechanical device. The force generating device can have a drive, such as a fluid dynamic drive, a gaseous drive, a hydropneumatic drive, an electronic drive or an electromechanical drive, such as a linear drive or a servo drive. The hydraulic device can be a hydraulic unit and / or a hydraulic pressure assembly and / or a hydraulic pressure unit. The hydraulic device can have at least one piston. The at least one piston can be displaceably mounted in a cylinder. The at least one piston can be pressurized and / or displaced by a hydraulic fluid.
[0035] The method is useful and / or for granulating a material strand, such as a plastic material strand. The method may include the following steps: providing a granulating device. The granulating device may be designed and / or driven and / or adjusted as described above and / or below. The method may further include the following steps: conveying a material melt, such as a plastic material melt, through a hole plate, such that a material strand is produced. The method may also include the following steps: rotating a cutter head by a drive device, such that the material strand is cut as granules by at least one cutter. The hydraulic device may press the one or more cutters against the hole plate with a contact force and / or contact pressure.
[0036] The invention allows the contact force and / or contact pressure to be optimally set or adjusted, for example reducing wear on cutters and hole plates, thus optimizing costs and avoiding machine downtimes, and improving the quality of the granulate. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0037] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures which show diagrammatically and exemplarily the invention. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a method for adjusting a pressing force. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a granulating device with a controller. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for granulating a strand of material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] 1 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for adjusting the contact or pressing force of at least one cutter, such as a granulating cutter, of a granulating device for granulating material strands, such as plastic material strands, the granulating device having a hydraulic device for pressing the at least one cutter with a contact force against a hole plate of the granulating device. The contact force can in particular be a hydrodynamic force of a hydraulic device.
[0039] In step S11, the cutter contact force is preset as a target value, which depends on the characteristics and number of cutters and the properties of the material to be granulated.
[0040] In step S12, at least one hydrodynamic parameter of the hydraulic device is provided, for example, three hydrodynamic parameters may be provided, such as a first area assigned to a forward pressure and a second area assigned to a reverse pressure.
[0041] In step S13, a hydrodynamic force, such as an axial pressure force, generated by rotation of the at least one cutter and acting on the at least one cutter in the direction of the hole plate is determined.
[0042] The hydrodynamic forces are calculated on the basis of the actual rotational speeds, in particular the cutter rotational speed and / or the cutter head rotational speed, detected by a sensor, and a target rotational speed is preset. The actual rotational speed is thus adjusted to the preset target rotational speed. The rotational speeds set as target values are calculated on the basis of throughput values, e.g. the material throughput value, the number of particles, a correction factor, the number of cutters, the number of holes in the hole plate.
[0043] The calculation of the hydrodynamic forces is performed using a function, such as a polynomial function, where the actual rotation speed is a variable and / or uncertainty of the function, the function being a quadratic function, the function having a plurality of, e.g., three coefficients defined by a plurality of, e.g., three parameters. The plurality of parameters can be preset or set. For example, the plurality of parameters can be previously empirically determined and are based on at least one data series determined in at least one operating mode of the granulator.
[0044] In step S14, a forward pressure of the hydraulic device is calculated based on the preset cutter contact force, the at least one hydrodynamic parameter provided, e.g., three hydrodynamic parameters, and the determined hydrodynamic force. The calculation of the forward pressure is based on the fact that the cutter contact force is the sum of hydrodynamic and hydrodynamic forces. The forward pressure can be defined and calculated by appropriately decomposing or transforming this equation. The calculated forward pressure is the target forward pressure of the hydraulic device.
[0045] In step S15, the calculated forward pressure is provided as a new setpoint for the hydraulic device for adjusting the contact force or pressure present in the granulator, in particular, so that the forward pressure and thus the contact force or pressure are adjusted. By repeatedly carrying out this method, the forward pressure can be automatically and repeatedly supplied and adjusted during the operation of the granulator.
[0046] Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a granulating device 100 for granulating strands of material, such as strands of plastic material, which device is arranged and intended to carry out one or more of the methods described above and / or below, in particular according to Figure 1 and / or Figure 3. To this end, the granulating device 100 comprises a controller 102 having a processor and a corresponding computer program product or computer program.
[0047] The granulator 100 is designed as an underwater granulator and comprises a perforated plate 104 for producing strands of material, a cutter head 106 with at least one cutter 108 arranged downstream of the perforated plate 104 for producing granules from the strands of material, a drive with a rotating shaft 110 for driving the cutter head 108 in rotation about a rotation axis 111, and a hydraulic device 112 for pressing the at least one cutter 108 with a contact force or contact pressure against the perforated plate 104. The cutter head 106 also comprises cutter wings 109 on which the cutters 108 are attached. The cutter wings 106 are rigidly connected to the rotating shaft 110.
[0048] The granulator 100 also includes a granulator hood 114 that at least partially surrounds the aperture plate 104 and the rotating shaft 110. A seal 116, such as a mechanical seal 116, is operatively disposed between the granulator hood 114 and the rotating shaft 110. The granulator hood 114 defines or defines a chamber 118 in which a cutter head 106 having a cutter 108 is disposed.
[0049] The arrows in Figure 2 represent the hydrodynamic force F hydrodynamisch , hydrodynamic force F hydraulisch , hydrostatic force F hydrostatisch This shows that.
[0050] For other points, please refer specifically to FIG. 1 and the associated description.
[0051] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a method for granulating a strand of material.
[0052] In step S21, a granulator 100 is provided. The granulator 100 is designed as described above and / or below, in particular according to FIG.
[0053] In step S22, a melt of material, such as a plastic melt, is conveyed through the perforated plate 104 such that strands of material are produced.
[0054] In step S23, the cutter head 106 is rotationally driven by the drive device so that the material strand is cut into granules using the at least one knife 108, and the hydraulic device 112 presses the at least one cutter 108 against the hole plate 104 by contact force or contact pressure.
[0055] For other points, please refer in particular to Figures 1 and 2 and the associated description.
[0056] "Can" specifically refers to any feature of the invention. Thus, there are further developments and / or exemplary embodiments of the invention that have each feature in addition or alternatively.
[0057] Where appropriate, independent features may be selected from combinations of features disclosed herein and used in combination with other features to limit the subject matter of the claims and to eliminate structural and / or functional connections that may exist between the features. The order and / or number of steps may be changed. Methods may be combined with each other, for example into an overall method. [Explanation of symbols]
[0058] S11: Step of preset cutter contact force (Schritt zum Vorgeben einer Messeranpresskraft) S12 Step of setting hydrodynamic parameters (Schritt zum Bereitstellen von Hydraulikparameter) S13: Determining hydrodynamic forces (Schritt zum Ermitteln einer hydrodynamischen Kraft) S14 Step to calculate forward pressure (Schritt zum Berechnen des Vorwaertsdrucks) S15 Step to provide calculated forward pressure (Schritt zum Bereitstellen des berechneten Vorwaertsdrucks) 100 Granulation equipment 102 Controller 104-hole plate (Lochplatte) 106 Cutterhead (Messerkopf) 108 Cutter (Messer) 109 Cutter Wing (Messerfluegel) 110 Rotating Shaft (Drehwelle) 111 Rotation axis (Drehachse) 112 Hydraulic devices 114 Granulierhaube 116 Mechanical seal (Gleitringdichtung) 118 Kammer F hydrodynamisch Hydrodynamic force F hydraulisch Hydrodynamic force (hydraulische Kraft) F hydrostatisch hydrostatic forces S21 Providing a granulator (Schritt zum Bereitstellen einer Granuliervorrichtung) S22: Conveying the molten material and forming a material strand. (Schritt zum Foerdern von Materialschmelze und Erzeugen der Materialstraenge) S23: Rotating the cutter head and pressing the cutter against the hole plate with contact pressure. (Step for rotating the knife head and pressing the knives with the contact pressure against the perforated plate)
Claims
1. A method for adjusting the contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ) of at least one cutter (108) of a granulating device (100) for granulating a material strand, comprising: The pelletizer (100) is configured to move the at least one cutter (108) against a hole plate (104) of the pelletizer (100) at a contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ a force generating device (112) for pressing the - a step (S11) of presetting the cutter contact force; a hydrodynamic force (F) generated by the rotation of said at least one cutter (108) and acting on said at least one cutter (108) in a direction towards said hole plate (104); ｈｙｄｒｏｄｙｎａｍｉｓｃｈ ) (S13); - the set cutter contact force and the determined hydrodynamic force (F ｈｙｄｒｏｄｙｎａｍｉｓｃｈ ) based on the contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ) determining the contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ) to adjust the contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ) providing A method comprising:
2. the cutter contact force is preset as a target value, the target value depending on the characteristics of the cutter (108), the number of the cutters (108) and / or the characteristics of the material to be granulated; The method of claim 1.
3. the force generating device (112) is a hydraulic device, a hydrodynamic device, a pneumatic device, a pneumatic device, a hydropneumatic device, an electronic device, a mechanical device, or an electromechanical device; and / or The force generating device (112) is designed to generate and / or provide the contact force (Fhydraulic), The method of claim 1.
4. the force generating device (112) comprises a drive device, a hydrodynamic drive device, a pneumatic drive device, a hydropneumatic drive device, an electronic drive device, a linear drive device, a servo drive device, or an electromechanical drive device; The method of claim 1.
5. The contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ) is the contact pressure and / or hydrodynamic force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ) and / or The contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ) is the difference between the forward and reverse forces, The method of claim 1.
6. Providing (S12) at least one parameter of the force generating device (112), and / or The provided and / or determined contact force (F ｈｙｄｒａｕｌｉｓｃｈ ), and / or calculating a pressure based on the at least one parameter of the force generating device (112) (S14). The method of claim 1.
7. Providing the calculated pressure as a new target value for adjusting the pressure existing in the granulation apparatus (100) (S15). The method of claim 6.
8. The calculated pressure is a forward pressure of the force generating device (112); and / or The at least one parameter is a first area of the force generating device (112) assigned to the calculated pressure; and / or and / or a counter pressure of the force generating device (112); a second area allocated to the counter pressure of the force generating device (112); The method of claim 6.
9. Calculating the pressure based on the first area assigned to the pressure and / or the reverse pressure and / or the second area assigned to the reverse pressure. The method of claim 8.
10. detecting the back pressure by a sensor; and / or The first area allocated to the pressure and / or the second area allocated to the reverse pressure is preset or predefined; The method of claim 8.
11. The hydrodynamic force (F ｈｙｄｒｏｄｙｎａｍｉｓｃｈ ) is calculated or detected by a sensor; The method of claim 1.
12. The hydrodynamic force (F ｈｙｄｒｏｄｙｎａｍｉｓｃｈ ) is calculated and / or estimated and / or determined based on the number of revolutions; The method of claim 1.
13. The rotation speed as an actual value is detected by a sensor, and / or a rotation speed as a target value is preset.
13. The method of claim 12.
14. The rotation speed, which is preset as a target value, is calculated based on a throughput value and / or a granulation number and / or a correction factor and / or a cutter number and / or a number of holes in the hole plate; 14. The method of claim 13.
15. The hydrodynamic force (F ｈｙｄｒｏｄｙｎａｍｉｓｃｈ ) is calculated and / or estimated and / or determined by a function, where the speed of rotation detected by a sensor as the actual value is the variable and / or uncertainty of the function, and / or the function is a function of first, second, third, fourth or higher order; and / or the function having one or more coefficients defined by one or more parameters; The method of claim 11.
16. the one or more parameters are preset and / or empirically determined; or are preset and / or empirically determined; The one or more parameters are based on at least one data series determined in at least one operating mode of the granulation apparatus (100), 16. The method of claim 15.
17. The contact force is defined as the hydrostatic force (F ｈｙｄｒｏｓｔａｔｉｓｃｈ ) based on The hydrostatic force (F ｈｙｄｒｏｓｔａｔｉｓｃｈ ) is preset or preset, and / or The hydrostatic force (F ｈｙｄｒｏｓｔａｔｉｓｃｈ ) is determined or is determined based on the water pressure and / or pressure area detected by the sensor The method of claim 1.
18. determining the contact force based on a melt pressure, the contact force being dependent on a melt pressure of the material melt; The method of claim 1.
19. and / or causing the controller (102) and / or the device to carry out the method of claim 1; 2. A computer program comprising program code means for performing the method according to claim 1, when the computer program is run on a processor.
20. A controller (102) for a granulator (100), comprising: The controller (102) is designed and determined to carry out the method of claim 1 and / or The controller (102) comprises at least one processor and a computer program comprising program code means for carrying out the method of claim 1.
21. A granulation device (100) for granulating a material strand, the granulation device being designed and configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 and / or A granulation apparatus (100) comprising a controller (102), the controller (102) being designed and determined to carry out the method according to claim 1 and / or the controller (102) comprising at least one processor and a computer program comprising program code means for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.
22. a hole plate (104) for generating the material strands; a cutterhead (106) having at least one cutter (108), arranged downstream of said hole plate for producing granules from said strand of material; a drive for driving said cutter head in rotation about its axis of rotation; a force generating device (112) for pressing said at least one cutter (108) against said hole plate with a contact force and / or contact pressure; The granulating device according to claim 21 , comprising:
23. A method for granulating a strand of material, comprising the steps of: - a step (S21) of providing a granulation device according to claim 21; - conveying (S22) a melt of material through said perforated plate (104) so that a strand of material is produced; - a step (S23) of rotating a cutter head by a drive device so as to cut said material strand into granules by said at least one cutter, said force generating device (112) pressing said at least one cutter against said hole plate with a contact force and / or with a contact pressure; A method comprising: