The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring an automatic
machine (10) for the manufacture or packaging of smoking,
hygiene, food, or pharmaceutical products, the
machine having at least one drive (A, B, C) that each moves at least one
machine element of the machine (10), wherein, during operation of the machine (10), actual torques or proportional actual current values of the drive (A, B, C) are compared with an upper and / or a
lower limit value, and wherein, if an actual torque value or actual current value of the drive exceeds the upper
limit value or falls below the
lower limit value with which it is compared, an
error signal is generated. The invention is characterized in that a) during operation of the machine (10) the upper and / or the
lower limit value is calculated in real time according to the respective actual position of the drive (A, B, C) recorded during operation of the machine (10), or that b) during operation of the machine (10) the upper and / or the lower
limit value is selected from a data storage device in accordance with the respective actual position of the drive recorded during operation of the machine (10), in which an upper and / or a lower
limit value is stored for several possible or for each possible actual position of the drive of the machine (10).