Getting Torqued Up

July 12, 2011
One great way to help ensure smooth operation and continual uptime in many production processes is the use of torque monitoring

One great way to help ensure smooth operation and continual uptime in many production processes is the use of torque monitoring. Implementation can be as simple as a single torque limit switch that trips a local alarm (for example, to let the operator know to clear a jam). A more complex system might include a low torque shutoff switch, high torque cutoff switch, and analog torque sensor tied to a process control system. A low torque switch may indicate, for example, a broken coupling. In a sheet-fed system, it might indicate the sheet ran out. A high torque switch typically indicates a load problem, such as a jam in a grinder.

Analog monitoring allows you to do all kinds of things with trends. Maintenance-required conditions can produce a trend change. A quick corrective response between production runs often eliminates production downtime for those conditions. Some examples include:

  • Sheet feed alignment is moving out of spec.
  • Gearbox (multiplies torque) is malfunctioning (due to lubrication, coupling problems, alignment stray).
  • Boxes are jamming together due to a conveyor roller problem.

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