GB2175116A - Fault recognition equipment for machine operation - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment for the indication, registration and evaluation of causes of machine standstills comprises sensors arranged at possible fault locations and an evaluating device (10) which controls a comparison of the sensor output signals with target value signals. The evaluating device (10) controls indicating elements (4, 5, 6) for each fault location, the indicating elements being arranged in an indicating device representing the schematic profile of the machine. A device (11) registers and evaluates the operating times of the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fault recognition equipment for machine operation The present invention relates to fault recognition equipment for machine operation, especially equipment for indication, registration and evaluation of causes of interruption of printing machine operation, including machines for which a weak point investigation should be conducted.

According to DE-OS 30 14 260 there is know a method and equipment for ascertaining the operating effectiveness of a printing press or similar machine in which, during the course of operating time, signals are derived one after the other from the machine and are representative of the machine operation including, at least approximately, the reasons for.

idle time of the machine. The signals are for this purpose recorded in visually distinguishable form and dimension on a recording medium. In that case, a visual identification of each signal must be possible from the kind of the recording so that the operating time, the idle time and at least approximately the reasons for idle time are visually recognisable from the recording on the recording medium.

It is a disadvantage of this method and equipment that an easily surveyable overall view of all monitoring locations in the machine is not provided and any observation from a position other than that of the recording medium is impossible. As a result, increased idle time can occur before finding and elimination of the causes of fault. The cost in service is thus relatively high.

Moreover, it is not possible in good time to recognise impending failures of functional units so as to thereby avoid damage.

There is thus a need for equipment for, for example, indication, registration and evaluation of machine standstill causes, which effects a relatively simple recognition of faults and an increase in the production time connected therewith as well as increasing the amenability to service of the machine to be checked. Desirably, faults and impending failure of functional units should be recognisable from several operating personnel posts and the location of the fault should be readily determinable, with an evaluation of constantly repeating faults also being possible.

According to the present invention there is provided fault recognition equipment for machine operation, the equipment comprising a plurality of sensors each positionable at a respective potential fault location of a machine to provide a signal having a value representing machine operation in the respective location, first evaluating means to compare the provided signal values with target values thereby to recognise faults, indicating elements arranged on a carrier bearing a diagram of the machine and controllable by the first evaluating means to provide indications of recognised faults, and second evaluating means responsive to output signals of the first evaluating means to evaluate operating periods of the machine.

In a preferred embodiment, sensors at possible fault locations are followed by evaluating equipment, which controls comparison with target values and the indicating elements, and downstream of which the indicating elements are arranged for each fault location, the indicating elements being ordered within an indicating equipment representing the schematic profile of the machine. Equipment registering and evaluating the partial times of the machine is arranged behind the indicating equipment.

Advantageously, the indicating equipment is so arranged that the indicating elements are identified by symbols characterising the respective fault location to be monitored and are mounted at places which, within the schematic profile of the machine, are appropriate for the respective fault locations. It is also advantageous for weak point evaluation if the equipment registering and evaluating the machine times is able to evaluate faults repeating over a long term and causing idle times.

The indicating equipment can also be arranged in such a manner that the indicating elements are connected with components which are discernible acoustically and radiate a tone which is characteristic for certain fault locations.

An increase in the accuracy of the indication may be achieved if the indicating elements comprise respective lines of indicators which are associated with the corresponding fault locations and represent target value as well as stepped deviations therefrom.

The indicating elements can be switchably connected with warning equipment which signals a fault and is discernible over a long distance.

A simple central arrangement is achieved to good effect if the warning equipment and the indicating arrangement are arranged at the remote operating control desk of the machine.

Expediently, further indicating elements, such as lines of light-emitting diodes, which serve for the recognition of deviations in parameters of material processed by the machine, are arranged within the indicating arrangement.

By means of equipment embodying the invention, in particular through the coupling with the equipment registering and evaluating machine times, faults are recognisable in many cases in good time from many positions and ascertained in easily localisable manner, for example by magnitudes representing deviation from target values within predetermined tolerances. Rapid elimination, connected with little damage, of the fault is thereby possible.

Moreover, a weak point investigation is pos sible in simple mode and manner.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 its a schematic diagram of equipment embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of evaluating means of the equipment.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 fault recognition equipment comprising an indicating device 2 mounted on a control desk 1. The control desk 1 can be indentical to, for example, the control desk usually present in a printing machine plant. An arrangement of such indicating devices at individual component groups (for example printing units) of the plant is also advantageous.

In the indicating device 2, a machine associated with the equipment is illustrated by its schematic profile in the form of a graphical machine diagram 3 and possible fault locations are provided with optical indicating elements.

The indicating elements for each fault location can consist of the illustrated light-emitting diodes 4, 5 and 6. Exceeding of a target value in positive direction is indicated by the diode 4, maintenance of the target value by the diode 5 and falling below of the target value in negative direction by the diode 6. All three values to be indicated are disposed within a predetermined tolerance range. If this range is exceeded by a sudden failure, then the diode 5 starts to flash. At the same time, a warning flasher 8 mounted at the control desk 1 is set into operation. Acoustic warning signal generators are also possible. These warning signals, visible or audible over a long distance, are a sign for operating personnel to view the fault location at the control desk 1 and initiate appropriate measures. In the case of serious faults, the machine is switched off automatically.If the fault concerns a type of component group, for example a printing unit, present at more than one place in the plant, the printing unit concerned is indicated by a printing unit indicator 7. The graphical machine diagram 3 can thus be kept to a minimum size.

When deviations from the target value (within the tolerance range) are signalled, these represent information that a gradual changing of the set values is present and a fault threatens. Operating personnel can thus take action in good time and for a large part avoid machine standstill. Deviations from the target value can also be indicated more exactly in several steps through increasing the number of light-emitting diodes.

Apart from the technical fault indication, recognition of deviations from target values of the parameters of materials, for example viscosity of ink, feeding of moistening agent and so forth, are important for a qualitatively correct production course. For this purpose, corresponding lines of light-emitting diodes 9 are arranged in the indicating device.

The indicating elements are driven by an evaluating device 10 described in more detail below. Apart from the driving of the indicating elements, the signals coming from the evaluating device 10 are utilised for analysis of operating time and operating time effort in a-data processing device 11. The device 11 serves for production data gathering and constantly detects the number of the faults arising so as to be able to inter alia determine weak points of the machine.

One possible form of the evaluating device 10 is illustrated in Fig. 2. On use of the equipment for a printing machine with three printing units, within the circuit a first multiplex block 12.1 is associated with a sheet feeder, three further multiplex blocks 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 with the three printing units and a fifth multiplex block 12.5 with a sheet deposit. By means of these blocks, sensors at the possible fault locations are interrogated one after the other. The switching-in of the respective multiplex block takes place through a counting block 13. The time duration of the interrogation and the instant are determined by a timing generator block 14. From the multiplex blocks 12.1 to 12.5, the interrogated values are passed to a comparison circuit 16, which could be a single-chip computer. In the simplest case, however, comparison circuits, known to the expert, for digital signals are used. Target values for the comparison process are predetermined by a target value generator 15. Apart from the usual storage media, the device 11 can also be utilised as the target value generator 15. The warning flasher 8 is driven by way of an OR-member 17.

Claims (10)

1. Fault recognition equipment for machine operation, the equipment comprising a plurality of sensors each positionable at a respective potential fault location of a machine to provide a signal having a value representing machine operation in the respective location, first evaluating means to compare the provided signal values with targer values thereby to recognise faults, indicating elements arranged on a carrier bearing a diagram of the machine and controllable by the first evaluating means to provide indications of recognised faults, and second evaluating means responsive to output signals of the first evaluating means to evaluate operating periods of the machine.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicating elements are arranged on the carrier each in a position on the diagram corresponding to an associated one of said locations and are identified by symbols characterising the locations.

3. Equipment as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, the second evaluating means being arranged to evaluate said output signals for indentification of repetitive faults interrupting machine operation.

4. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising acoustic elements each associated with a respective one of the indicating elements and responsive to provision of an indication by that indicating element to issue an acoustic signal having a tone respective to an associated one of said locations.

5. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the indicating elements is associated with a respective one of said locations and comprises an indicator for indication of target value operation at that location and at least one further indicator for indication of operation deviating from such target value operation.

6. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a warning device switchably connected to the indicating elements and responsive to provision of an indication by an indicating element to issue a sig nal discernible beyond the immediate proximity of the carrier.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicating elements and the warning device are arranged in a control panel positionable remotely from such machine.

8. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising means to detect deviation of parameters of material processed by such machine from predetermined parameters and further indicating elements to provide indications in response to detection of such deviations.

9. Equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the further indicating elements comprise light-emitting diodes arranged on the carrier.

10. Fault recognition equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.