Method for controlling a packaging machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a packaging machine, which comprises a product conveyor for conveying a product and packaging conveyor for conveying a packaging. The conveyors run, in sections, parallel and synchronous to one another thereby enabling the product to be introduced into the packaging inside a transfer station. The packaging machine additionally comprises an including conveyor for including an inclusion part to be enclosed with the product, for example, a pamphlet or a measuring scoop. A data memory provided in the form of a shift register contains different state data and control data pertaining to the packaging units consisting of the product, packaging and the inclusion part. The data, at time t o , are displaced in the shift register in a clocked manner. At at least time t p , which is given by an initiator, a monitoring or processing action is initiated on the inclusion part, whereby time t p can be shifted with regard to time t o . The relative position of time t p with regard to time t o is checked, and time t p is shifted when it is located within a tolerance period of time T formed around t o .

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . A method for controlling a packaging machine, the packaging machine having a product conveyor for a product and a package conveyor for a package, the product conveyor and the package conveyor having mutually parallel, synchronous sections for insertion of the product into the package at a transfer station, the packaging machine also having a conveyor for an additional item to be added to the product such as a leaflet or a dosing spoon, the packaging machine also having a data storage shift register which contains various state and control data of packaging units, those packaging units consisting essentially of the product, the package, and the additional item, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) displacing the state and control data in a clocked manner in the shift register at a time t o ;    b) adjusting a time t p  relative to time t o  in dependence on at least one of the product, the package, and the additional item, wherein time t p  is a time at which a control or processing action is started on the additional item;    c) examining a relative time difference between time t p  and t o ; and    d) shifting time t p  if the relative time difference determined in step c) is within a tolerance period T about t o .    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein time t p  is shifted until it is outside of the tolerance period T.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tolerance period T is between ±3% and ±10% of a cycle time of the packaging machine.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tolerance time T is ±5% of the cycle time of the packaging machine.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein shifts Δt 1 , Δt 2  of the time t p  which are required to obtain a position outside of the tolerance period T, are determined in both directions (earlier—later) and the time t p  is shifted by the smaller of the two shifts Δt 1 , Δt 2 .