System for monitoring cutting devices in a packaging production line

A method for monitoring cutting devices in a packaging production line, comprising:

• providing a system for monitoring the cutting devices in the packaging production line, comprising the following subsequent sections:
• a line for feeding a material to be cut;
• an area for cutting said material comprising a cutting device, of a predetermined type, which realizes, in series, a plurality of packaging elements by cutting said material;
• an output line for outputting said plurality of packaging elements;
• wherein
• the cutting device comprises:
• at least one environmental sensor, configured to detect environmental data comprising temperature and humidity;
• and
• counting means for counting cutting actions of the cutting device, the counting means being configured to provide a time series of cutting action counting data;
• a video camera is positioned so as to frame an area of said output line, the video camera being configured to provide video data for each packaging element of said plurality of packaging elements in said area;
• first code means are configured to run, on a computer, a first algorithm for recognizing cutting defects on the basis of said video data, and a reference model is stored in said computer, said first algorithm providing defect recognition data;
• second code means are configured to run, on said computer, an expert algorithm for estimating one or more parameters related to operation of the cutting device, termed one or more operational indicators, on the basis of the following plurality of data:
• the defect recognition data provided by said first code means;
• the environmental data from said at least one environmental sensor;
• the cutting action counting data provided by the counting means;
• and
• said predetermined type of cutting device;
• and
• wherein said expert algorithm is trained on at least one historical series of said plurality of data, obtaining a trained expert algorithm, and wherein said one or more operational indicators comprise at least one performance prediction parameter for predicting cutting performance of the cutting device;
• training said expert algorithm with the at least one historical series of said plurality of data, thus obtaining a trained expert algorithm;
• running, on said computer, said trained expert algorithm;
• and
• obtaining, as an output of said trained expert algorithm, said one or more operational indicators.