New concepts for packaging machines with flexible programmable single drive systems

Up to now, traditional drive systems have been used in packaging machine engineering. Hereby the operating process is controlled mechanically via cam disks fitting on a line shaft, making sure that all processes maintain their synchronism even in case of breakdown. As a consequence, product conversions need considerable setup time. The use of modular concepts in construction and in drive engineering allows a simple and fast and therefore low-cost product changeover. The use of single drive systems requires the substitution of the mechanically coupled functions by data-processing links. This paper presents a new feeding conveyer of a cartoning machine using two interconnected servomotor drives as well as a collision avoiding strategy. The mentioned strategy has been worked out and is currently being tested on a test bench.