METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING MECHANICAL PROMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY IN CIGARETTE MAKERS BLEMS, PARTICULARLY IN CIGARETTE MAKERS

摘要

In a machine having rotating components, in which a substance is processed in continuous form, a sensor generates signals representative of the instantaneous supply rate of the substance at one or more selected locations in the machine. A processor performs a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis on such signals, to determine the amplitude harmonic value at each frequency over a spectrum of frequencies. The measured FFT values are compared to reference values at the corresponding frequencies in order to identify out-of-spec values and generate an error signal. Preferably also, the processor matches the frequency corresponding to the out-of-spec amplitude to a corresponding harmonic frequency value of one of the rotating machine components.