Metering apparatus with damage monitoring
View Patent ↗Packaging installation with a metering apparatus and method for monitoring damage in a packaging installation in which packs ( 19 ) which are to be filled can be charged with the contents in each case by means of a metering apparatus ( 01 ) designed according to one of Claims 1 to 8 , wherein —the vibrations of the wall of the dispensing container ( 02 ) are measured at least during operation of the stirrer ( 06 ) and/or of the metering screw ( 05 ), —the measured values are evaluated by the vibration evaluator ( 10 ), —deviations in the vibration behavior are detected and compared with limit values stored in the vibration evaluator ( 10 ), —when the limit values are exceeded, this indicates with sufficient probability, that the stirrer ( 06 ) or the metering screw ( 05 ) is in contact with the dispensing container ( 02 ), —an alarm is triggered by means of the vibration evaluator ( 10 ).
1. A metering apparatus for metering free-flowing materials arranged on a packaging machine, said metering apparatus comprising:
a delivery container having a funnel and a tube
an agitator arranged in the funnel
a metering screw arranged in the delivery container;
a vibration sensor sensing vibration of the delivery container; and
a vibration evaluator, wherein a change in a vibration of the delivery container resulting from contact of at least one of the agitator and the metering screw with the delivery container is sensed by the vibration sensor and detected by the vibration evaluator.
2. The metering apparatus according to claim 1 , including an alarm device, wherein the vibration evaluator activates the alarm device to output at least one of an acoustical warning and optical warning when contact between the delivery container and at least one of the agitator and the metering screw is detected.
3. The metering apparatus according to claim 1 , in which a clearance between at least one of the agitator ( 06 ) and the metering screw and at least one of the inner wall of the funnel and the tube is at least at one point smaller than 20 mm.
4. The metering apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the funnel is made of metal.
5. The metering apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the vibration sensor is coupled to the delivery container in such a way that vibrations in a wall of at least one of the funnel and the tube are transmitted to the vibration sensor.
6. The metering apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the vibration sensor has one measuring axis in the direction of which accelerations below 200 g can be registered.
7. The metering apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the vibration sensor can register frequencies from at least 5 Hz up to at least 200 Hz.
8. The metering apparatus according to claim 1 , in which spectral resolution of the vibration sensor is lower than 5 Hz.
9. A packaging system with a metering apparatus according to claim 1 , in which a control device stops the packaging system when an alarm is triggered by the vibration evaluator.
10. The packaging system according to claim 9 , in which the packages filled by the metering apparatus between the triggering of the alarm and cancelling of the alarm can be separately removed from the packaging system.
11. A packaging system with a metering apparatus according to claim 1 , including an alarm triggered by the vibration evaluator, wherein when the alarm is triggered by the vibration evaluator, a control device ensures material tracking of packages being filled at the time the alarm is triggered.
12. A method for monitoring damage in a packaging system, in which packages are filled with material, said packaging system including the metering apparatus according to claim 1 , said method comprising:
measuring vibrations of a wall of the delivery container using the vibration sensor;
using the vibration evaluator to evaluate the vibrations measured by the vibration sensor and detect deviations in vibration characteristics of the delivery container at least during operation of at least one of the agitator and the metering screw;
comparing the deviations with limiting values stored in the vibration evaluator, wherein the limiting values are set, such that deviations exceeding the limiting values indicate that the delivery container has contacted at least one of the agitator and the metering screw; and
triggering an alarm when the deviations exceed the limiting values.
13. The method according to claim 12 , in which the alarm is at least one of acoustically and optically output for a system supervisor.
14. The method according to claim 12 , in which the packaging system is stopped when the alarm is triggered.
15. The method according to claim 12 , in which, when the alarm is triggered, material tracking is carried out for the package being filled at the time the alarm is triggered and all following packages until the alarm in the packaging system is cancelled, wherein these packages filled while the alarm is triggered are separately removed from the packaging system.