Selectively disengageable drive arrangement

Abstract

A drive arrangement for a necker machine having a frame assembly and a plurality of modules, each having a number of drive shafts. The arrangement includes a plurality of control motors, each structured to be operatively engaged with a drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of each of the modules and to be electrically connected to a power bus of a number of power buses. The arrangement also includes a control unit in communication with each control motor of the plurality of control motors for controlling operation of each control motor and a number of voltage sensors in communication with the control unit for detecting voltage in a corresponding power bus of the number of power buses. The control unit is programmed to monitor, via the number of voltage sensors, the voltage in each power bus of the number of power buses during operation of the necker machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drive arrangement for a necker machine having a frame assembly and a plurality of modules, each module having a number of drive shafts, the drive arrangement comprising:
 a plurality of control motors, each control motor of the plurality of control motors structured to be operatively engaged with a drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a respective module of the plurality of modules, each control motor structured to be electrically connected to a power bus of a number of power buses;   a control unit in communication with each control motor of the plurality of control motors, the control unit structured to control operation of each control motor of the plurality of control motors; and   a number of voltage sensors in communication with the control unit, each voltage sensor structured to detect voltage in a corresponding power bus of the number of power buses,   wherein the control unit is programmed to:
 monitor, via the number of voltage sensors, the voltage in each power bus of the number of power buses during operation of the necker machine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The drive arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further programmed to:
 determine that the voltage of at least one power bus of the number of power buses has dropped below a predetermined threshold; and   begin a shutdown sequence of the plurality of control motors responsive to determining that the voltage has dropped below the predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The drive arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is further programmed to bring the plurality of control motors to a stop in a timed positioning. 
     
     
         4 . The drive arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the control unit is further programmed to:
 determine that the voltage of each power bus of the number of power buses has returned above the, or another, predetermined threshold; and   resume operation of the necker machine.   
     
     
         5 . The drive arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein each control motor comprises a servo motor having an associated electrical drive electrically connected thereto, each electrical drive structured to drive the servo motor associated therewith; and
 wherein the control unit is in communication with the electrical drive of each servo motor.   
     
     
         6 . The drive arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft to which each respective control motor is structured to be operatively engaged is one of a primary drive shaft structured to drive a processing arrangement of a respective module of the plurality of modules or a secondary drive shaft structured to drive a transfer arrangement of the respective module. 
     
     
         7 . The drive arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is structured to:
 electronically selectively couple the plurality of control motors such that a rotational timing position of each of the drive shafts to be operatively engaged therewith are locked in sync; and   operate the plurality of control motors in a synchronized timed manner.   
     
     
         8 . The drive arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is further structured to:
 electronically selectively uncouple a number of control motors of the plurality of control motors from other control motors of the plurality of control motors; and   operate the number of control motors independently of the other control motors.   
     
     
         9 . A necker machine comprising:
 a frame assembly;   a plurality of modules coupled to the frame assembly, each module having a number of drive shafts, and   a drive arrangement comprising:
 a number of power buses; 
 a plurality of control motors, each control motor of the plurality of control motors operatively engaged with a drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a respective module of the plurality of modules, each control motor electrically connected to a power bus of the number of power buses; 
 a control unit in communication with each control motor of the plurality of control motors, the control unit structured to control operation of each control motor of the plurality of control motors; and 
 a number of voltage sensors in communication with the control unit, each voltage sensor structured to detect voltage in a corresponding power bus of the number of power buses, 
   wherein the control unit is programmed to:
 monitor, via the number of voltage sensors, the voltage in each power bus of the number of power buses during operation of the necker machine. 
   
     
     
         10 . The necker machine of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further programmed to:
 determine that the voltage of at least one power bus of the number of power buses has dropped below a predetermined threshold; and   begin a shutdown sequence of the plurality of control motors responsive to determining that the voltage has dropped below the predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The necker machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is further programmed to bring the plurality of control motors to a stop in a timed positioning. 
     
     
         12 . The necker machine of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further programmed to:
 determine that the voltage of each power bus of the number of power buses has returned above the, or another, predetermined threshold; and   resume operation of the necker machine.   
     
     
         13 . The necker machine of  claim 9 , wherein each control motor comprises a servo motor having an associated electrical drive electrically connected thereto, each electrical drive structured to drive the servo motor associated therewith; and
 wherein the control unit is in communication with the electrical drive of each servo motor.   
     
     
         14 . The necker machine of  claim 9 , wherein the drive shaft to which each respective control motor is operatively engaged is one of a primary drive shaft structured to drive a processing arrangement of a respective module of the plurality of modules or a secondary drive shaft structured to drive a transfer arrangement of the respective module. 
     
     
         15 . The necker machine of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is structured to:
 electronically selectively couple the plurality of control motors such that a rotational timing position of each of the drive shafts to be operatively engaged therewith are locked in sync; and   operate the plurality of control motors in a synchronized timed manner.   
     
     
         16 . The necker machine  claim 15 , wherein the control unit is further structured to:
 electronically selectively uncouple a number of control motors of the plurality of control motors from other control motors of the plurality of control motors; and   operate the number of control motors independently of the other control motors.   
     
     
         17 . The necker machine of  claim 9 , wherein the number of power buses comprises a plurality of power buses.