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AssigneeFocke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
InventorsHeinz Focke, Hans-Jürgen Bretthauser, Jörg Kaluschke
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a machine, especially a machine for packing or producing (cigarettes), which has an interface (38, 30, 40) for exchanging data between the machine (35, 36, 37) and a connected network (34, 52, 53). The invention also relates to a machine for packing or producing (cigarettes) which has a visual monitoring device for observing areas of the complex machine which are difficult to access or see, said monitoring device being located in the relevant area of the packing machine. This monitoring device records images of the area of the machine which is difficult to access using a line (24) and reproduces said images on a display screen for example, using a camera. The invention also relates to a network (34, 52, 53) of machines of this type, comprising a computer (42) for monitoring the functions of the connected machines (35, 36, 37) and/or a computer (57) for carrying out maintenance and/or defect repair measures on the connected machines (35, 36, 37). Finally, the invention also relates to a method for maintaining and/or diagnosing machines (35, 36, 37). According to this method, data is exchanged with a diagnosis and control computer (42) and/or a service computer (57) via a network (34, 52, 53).
A cigarette producing machine including a plurality of interacting units with an apparatus for optically monitoring an area of at least one of said units that is not readily accessible for direct observation, the apparatus comprising:
A cigarette producing machine including a plurality of interacting units with an apparatus for optically monitoring an area of at least one of said units that is not readily accessible for direct observation, the apparatus comprising:
A cigarette producing machine including a plurality of interacting units with an apparatus for optically monitoring an area of at least one of said units, the apparatus comprising:
A cigarette producing machine including a plurality of interacting units with an apparatus for optically monitoring an area of at least one of said unit, the apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
The invention relates to a machine, especially a (cigarette) packaging and/or producing machine, having a number of interacting units assemblies and elements, to a network and to a method for maintaining and/or diagnosing such machines.
Packaging machines, especially cigarette packaging machines but also cigarette producing machines, are characterized by a very complex construction. The interacting units, assemblies and elements, especially folding turret, cigarette magazine, conveyor for cigarettes and packs etc., are constructed and arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the visual detection and monitoring of the movement sequences and the states of individual elements by machine personnel are made extraordinarily difficult. This leads to the situation where faults which develop gradually, in particular contamination of elements or parts of the same, cannot always be detected and stopped in good time. In addition, the maintenance, fault detection and fault rectification of such machines are complicated, because of their complexity.
The invention is therefore based on the object of improving the maintenance of machines of the type mentioned at the beginning. In addition, the invention is based on the object of constructing such machines, specifically in particular packaging machines for cigarettes or the like, in such a way that the working and movement sequences and any developing faults or actual faults can be detected more easily and better.
The—preferred—exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings deals with a packaging machine, in concrete terms with a cigarette packaging machine for the production of cigarette packs 10 of the soft-carton type. FIG. 1 shows a simplified side view of the construction of the packaging machine. According to this figure, the machine comprises a cigarette magazine 11, a socket chain 12 for transporting groups of cigarettes and a folding turret 13. The latter is connected via a transfer turret 14 to a drying turret 15. In the area of the latter, the finished cigarette packs 10 remain for a certain time in order that glue points can harden. The finished cigarette packs 10 are transported away via a discharge conveyor 16. Details of the packaging machine emerge from U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,032 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,335.
The packaging machine has a large number of areas which, during operation, can be subjected to material wear, undesired faults in elements or contamination. The direct visual monitoring and inspection of many areas by the operating personnel of the packaging machine is impossible or possible only with a great deal of effort.
The assembly selected as an example of such an area of the packaging machine which is critical and requires monitoring is an assembly which is assigned to the folding turret 13, namely a gluing assembly 18 acting in the area of a gluing station 17. This gluing assembly is positioned in a stationary position directly beside the circular movement path of the folding turret 13 and of the cigarette packs 10. The task of the gluing assembly 18 is to apply glue to specific folding tabs or the cigarette pack 10, specifically in particular point-like glue patterns. For details relating to the construction and functioning of the gluing assembly 18, reference is made to DE 196 48 445.6.
Program-control systems
Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking…:…
Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
Operator till task planning: supervisory control, monitor and control system, by operator or automatic
Term ended 5 Jun 2020 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.