Packaging Machine Drive Control for Collision-Free Motion Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increased risk of collisions between independently driven machine elements and other components or products in packaging machines, particularly in the tobacco industry, due to the abandonment of mechanical coupling to a rotating main shaft, leads to faults and material breakages.
Innovation Solution
A digital simulation model is created to simulate the relative positions and states of drives and machine elements, allowing for the determination of collision-free traversing paths, which are then implemented through control of individual drives to ensure safe movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate servo drives are used for individual moving machine elements instead of mechanical coupling to a main shaft, then operational flexibility and independence of machine elements are improved, but the risk of collisions between machine elements and with products increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary simulation of machine element movements before actual operation to identify and avoid collision risks. The control unit simulates trajectories of multiple machine elements driven by separate servo drives and determines collision-free traversing paths in advance, preventing collisions before they occur during actual machine operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the actual positions of machine elements during operation and compares them with simulated collision-free paths. When potential collisions are detected, the control unit adjusts the operation of individual servo drives in real-time to avoid collisions while maintaining operational flexibility
2Device complexity
If machine elements are moved along predetermined fixed trajectories, then control simplicity is maintained, but the ability to avoid collisions dynamically is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static predetermined trajectories to dynamic adaptive paths. The control unit continuously calculates optimal traversing paths based on real-time positions of all machine elements and products, allowing trajectories to adapt dynamically while maintaining coordinated control through the central control unit
3Reliability
If simulation and path calculation are performed in real-time during machine operation, then collision avoidance is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs simulation and path calculation in advance before actual machine operation begins. By determining collision-free traversing paths beforehand based on predetermined operating parameters, the system avoids time-consuming real-time calculations during operation while maintaining reliable collision avoidance
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs simulation and path recalculation at periodic intervals or when specific conditions change (e.g., machine setup, maintenance mode), rather than continuously during operation. This reduces computational load while maintaining safety through regular updates of collision-free paths
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a packaging machine for producing wrappers, in particular for producing wrappers for smokable products of the tobacco industry, with several drives capable of being activated independently of one another which move machine elements of the packaging machine on trajectories on which the machine elements might collide with one another or with another component of the packaging machine or with products being handled in the packaging machine, by creating a digital simulation model of the packaging machine is created, simulating differing relative positions of the drives and the states of the packaging machine, ascertaining collision-free traversing paths for the machine elements, and moving the machine elements of the packaging machine respectively along the ascertained collision-free traversing paths.