Patent ID: 7561940

Claim:
A method for predictive maintenance of a cutting unit of an automatic machine during normal operation of the cutting unit; the cutting unit comprising at least one cutting member cooperating cyclically with a counter-member to cut an article fed between the cutting member and the counter-member; the method comprising the steps of: a) feeding a succession of articles, normally cut by the cutting unit, between the at least one cutting member and the counter member to cut the articles; b) determining, with a given frequency, and during the cutting of the articles, the value (V) of a characteristic quantity of the cutting unit related to contact between the cutting member and the counter-member; c) determining a first curve of the characteristic quantity value (V) as a function of time; d) extrapolating a future time pattern of the characteristic quantity value (v) using the first curve; and e) programming maintenance work on the cutting unit when the first curve is outside a given acceptance range.