DE102019125708A1 - System for the automated filling of individualized products - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (10) for the automated generation of a variable mixture of at least two different substances (A; B) in a container (20; 20 '), the system (10) having at least two filling stations (30; 30') which are designed for the variable dosage of a respective substance (A; B) in a container (20; 20 '). Furthermore, drive means are provided which are designed for the variable arrangement of a container (20; 20 ') in a filling position opposite a respective filling station (30; 30'). Control means serve to control the dosage of a substance (A; B) in a respective filling station (30; 30 ') and to control the drive means.

Description

The invention relates to a system for the automated generation of a variable mixture of at least two different substances in a container, the system having at least two filling stations for dosing a respective substance into a container and drive means for arranging a container in a filling position opposite a respective filling station. Individualized products can be manufactured with the system.

According to the current state of the art, the production and mixing of individualized products is very inefficient and uneconomical. After the order has been received, the production orders are usually created and planned manually. The production is then carried out manually or at most partially automated in the individual process steps: mixing, filling, sealing, labeling, packaging. The quality inspection, inventory management and documentation make production more difficult and expensive. The reduction of throughput time, personnel costs, as well as efficient documentation and quality assurance therefore represent the greatest challenges in individualized production. An efficient technical solution that can consistently reach from the end customer or operator to the finished product has not yet existed.

Only devices are known in which a product is individually mixed from several substances and then output as a finished mixture. This finished mixture can then be dispensed into a container through a dispensing opening. However, it is disadvantageous in such devices, inter alia, that in particular liquid or pasty residues of an individualized mixture remain within the device or at a dispensing opening after delivery. The relevant components must therefore be cleaned before another mixture can be generated and dispensed. Otherwise the new mixture would be contaminated with remnants of the previous mixture.

Based on this, there is therefore a need for an improved system for the automated filling and mixing of individualized products, the products being, for example, liquids of all types, solids or semi-solid substances.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a system for the automated generation of a variable mixture of at least two different substances in a container, wherein the system can be operated as flexibly as possible.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a system according to independent claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the system result from subclaims 2-18.

It should be pointed out that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technically meaningful manner and show further embodiments of the invention. The description additionally characterizes and specifies the invention, in particular in connection with the figures.

The system according to the invention is used for the automated generation of a variable mixture of at least two different substances in a container. Such a mixture is then a product that can be individually manufactured from two or more different substances, it being possible to vary the composition of the product. The container is, for example, a bottle. However, other containers can also be used, such as cups, cans, bags, etc. The substances are designated below by way of example with A and B, whereby preferably more than two substances can be mixed in one container to form an individualized product. The substances are, for example, liquids of all kinds or semi-solid substances. But solids that can be dispensed, dosed or portioned can also be filled. For example, these are powders, granulates or pellets. Furthermore, the products to be produced are products which preferably consist of any number of ingredients or substances. However, this is preferably done in compliance with legal requirements and limit values, if these are to be used for the respective mixture.

According to the invention, the system has at least two filling stations which are designed for variable metering of a respective substance into a container. There is therefore a respective filling station for each substance. Furthermore, each filling station is designed for variable dosing of a respective substance, so that it can dose different amounts of a substance in a targeted manner. The system also has drive means which are designed for the variable arrangement of a container in a filling position opposite a respective filling station. By means of the drive means, a container can be aligned one after the other with respect to a plurality of filling stations in such a way that these can successively dose their respective substance into the container. These drive means can be designed in the most varied of ways in order to bring a container into a specific filling position in relation to a filling station or vice versa. There is also a filling station for example, while a container is moved to a filling station with a drive means. A container is then relatively movable to several filling stations. However, this type of relative movement can also be reversed. For example, a container can be stationary, while different filling stations are moved one after the other with a drive means to form a stationary container. A combination of both relative movements is also possible. If it is described below that a container is moved to a filling station, this therefore also includes any other relative movement with which a container can be brought into a filling position with respect to a filling station.

In addition, containers and filling stations can be moved relative to one another, for example by means of a linear movement or a rotary movement. A combination of both types of movement is also possible. In one embodiment of the invention, for example, a linear system is provided in which a carriage with a container can be moved linearly along a plurality of filling stations. Several filling stations can be approached one after the other with the slide. The carriage allows the container to be moved in two directions so that it can also be moved back and forth.

The system according to the invention also has control means which are designed to control the dosage of a substance A, B in a respective filling station and to control the drive means. With these control means, selected filling stations are able to deliver variable amounts of a substance depending on the current mixture. The control means also enable the drive means to variably move a container to be filled to different filling stations or vice versa. Overall, the invention provides such a system for the very flexible filling of individualized products. Any substances or ingredients can be filled with this system in practically any combination with any dosage. The dispensed substances are then mixed in the container. Since a filling station always only delivers the substance stored in it and the mixing of several substances only takes place in the container, no removal of mixture residues from parts of the system is necessary after filling a mixture.

The system is optionally integrated into a system in which a user can configure a desired product in a configurator. Such a product configurator, preferably web-based, should give the user of the system the opportunity to select the most suitable combination for his needs from a large number of ingredients in easily understandable individualization stages and, in particular, to enter his user preferences. In one embodiment of the invention, the system therefore comprises a computing unit, via which at least information about user preferences and / or about a mixture to be generated of at least two substances can be transmitted to the control means of the system. This computing unit can be web-based or stationary and communicates with the system components.

The metering of a quantity of a substance at a filling station of the system takes place in a time-controlled manner, for example. If a certain amount is to be dispensed, this corresponds to a certain time for the opening of a dispensing opening such as a valve. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a quantity of a substance is metered in a filling station in discrete, time-controlled filling cycles. This means that a dispensing opening (e.g. valve) is opened for a short, defined period of time. Depending on the substance, this corresponds to a certain amount of the substance. An amount of a substance to be dosed is then made up of the amount of one or more filling cycles that follow one another in time. With the discrete, time-controlled filling, each filling station therefore carries out an exact number of filling cycles until a quantity to be dosed is reached. The advantage over a purely time-controlled filling is the significantly higher accuracy. This is particularly relevant when filling smaller quantities. Such a discrete, time-controlled filling can thus advantageously be used in the system according to the invention, since only small to very small partial quantities have to be dosed at the various filling stations, depending on the mixture to be produced. The provision of the most precise possible dosage is therefore of essential importance in the system according to the invention. In order to reduce the number of filling cycles per filling process to a minimum, the filling cycle of a filling station preferably corresponds to the smallest possible filling quantity, but the filling cycle can also deviate from this. In particular when filling solids or semi-solids, other suitable metering methods can be used.

In order to improve the accuracy of the dosing at the filling stations, a check of the respective amount of a substance dispensed into a container is preferably provided. This check can be used to calibrate the filling stations. In one embodiment of the invention, the calibration takes place continuously and autonomously while the system is in operation. For example, a released amount of a substance can be checked by determining the weight of the substance. A certain amount of a substance is then a certain target weight assigned. This target weight is continuously determined for each amount of a substance to be dispensed, which can be done in a computing unit. The released substance is weighed in the container and this actual weight is compared with the determined target weight. If the difference is too great, the metering characteristics of the filling station in question can be changed in such a way that the difference is reduced in the following filling processes or filling cycles. For example, the opening time of a valve per filling cycle is changed, ie increased or decreased, for this purpose.

It can be provided that the actual weight of a total amount of a substance that has been dispensed from a filling station into a container is determined, i.e. the total weight is determined at the end of the completed filling process. In an alternative embodiment, the actual weight of an amount of a substance that was dispensed in a discrete filling cycle is determined. The latter embodiment has the advantage that the metering characteristics of the filling station can, under certain circumstances, be changed for the next discrete filling cycle. This makes an advantageous contribution to increasing the accuracy of the filling process that is already in progress and represents an ongoing, autonomous calibration of the filling stations.

In one embodiment of the invention, therefore, at least one weighing device is provided which is designed to determine the actual weight of a substance dosed into a container at a filling station. For example, with the help of a load sensor or a load cell (e.g. strain gauge) attached to the slide of a linear system, the actual filling quantity per filling cycle or per filling process is recorded. The weight of each bottle is initially tared when it is placed on the slide. The system is designed to compare the actual weight determined by the weighing device with a target weight which corresponds to the quantity of the substance to be dosed at this filling station. The system is also designed to change the metering characteristics of the filling station when the discrepancy between the actual weight and the target weight fulfills a certain condition. This condition contains in particular that the deviation exceeds a certain threshold value, wherein the threshold value can also be zero.

The use of filling stations, which each have a pressurized substance container from which a substance can be dosed, is particularly advantageous for the delivery of liquid and pasty substances. Each filling station has, for example, a pressurized substance container, a filling level sensor and a filling valve. The filling valve is controlled in such a way that a certain filling quantity is dispensed. The compressed air required to build up pressure in the substance containers is controlled with the aid of one or more compressed air sensors. Other variants such as the use of filling or metering pumps in combination with flow sensors are also possible. For the metering of very small amounts, as may be necessary for the system according to the invention, these are, however, under certain circumstances less suitable. It is essential for the system according to the invention that the smallest possible quantities are metered as precisely and economically as possible.

In one embodiment of the invention, the system can be operated in different operating modes. This means, for example, that it can only be operated in one operating mode, but the operating mode can be selected from a group of several operating modes. However, the system can also be configured in such a way that it can be selectively operated in different operating modes. These operating modes relate in particular to the distinction between order-related filling and fully autonomous filling. Order-related filling also includes semi-autonomous filling. In the case of order-related filling in a first operating mode, the final composition of a product is already determined before the actual filling process. In the case of fully autonomous filling in a second operating mode, however, the final composition of a product is only obtained at the end of the autonomous filling process.

In a first operating mode with order-related filling, a filling order is generated before filling begins. A customer or other user of the system configures his product himself, for example using a product configurator, or selects a preconfigured product. The generated filling order contains the dosing quantities of the individual substances or ingredients. These dosing quantities are stored and can be called up for the filling stations of the system. In one embodiment of the invention, the filling order is converted into an identification with which a container to be filled is provided. The identification is, for example, a barcode, QR code or a similar optically detectable code. However, an RFID tag or another type of machine-readable identification can also be used. A reader identifies the filling order by scanning the label applied to the container and a computing unit reads the information on the substances to be filled and their quantities from the filling order. The drive means move the container to the filling stations, which hold the substances of the filling order, and the filling stations in question meter the specified quantities of the Substances. Filling stations for ingredients that are not included in the filling order are not approached by the container. The drive means are controlled in such a way that a container is only moved to the next filling station when the previous filling has been completed.

The filling order is preferably read out by a central reading device and an associated computing unit. The information read out is made available to the filling stations and drive means by the computing unit. This can mean that the filling stations and drive means only call up information from the computing unit and process it autonomously. However, it can also mean that the filling stations and drive means only receive control commands from the computing unit and implement them. Alternatively, for example, each filling station can be equipped with its own reader to identify the current filling order.

After each filling process has been completed, the respective filling station reports completion, so that the drive means can move a container to the next filling station. The exact filling quantities, the batch numbers and the filling date of the individual ingredients are preferably saved for documentation. At the end of a filling line, a light barrier or another reader acknowledges the completion of the filling process.

In such an embodiment with a filling according to a predetermined filling order, the control means are therefore designed to activate the dosage of a substance in a respective filling station and to activate the drive means in a first operating mode of the system on the basis of a filling order that contains the quantities of a mixture contains at least two substances. The filling order itself can have been generated in various ways. For example, the filling order has been generated by a computing unit on the basis of a predetermined mixture of at least two substances selected by the user.

In another embodiment of the invention, a computing unit defines a mixture of at least two substances on the basis of provided specifications and generates a filling order on the basis of this defined mixture. This can be called semi-autonomous bottling. In the case of such a partially autonomous filling, a customer / user merely specifies certain preferences or other specifications for a mixture and a computing unit determines a suitable mixture on the basis of these specifications and other available information. A customer specifies his preferences, e.g. using a questionnaire. The processing unit then configures the product that best meets the customer's preferences using historical data and customer ratings and, under certain circumstances, taking into account the limit values and legal requirements using an algorithm. For this purpose, a filling order is generated which contains information on the amount of a mixture of at least two substances and can be processed by the system as described.

In a further possible operating mode, fully autonomous filling takes place without a filling order generated a priori with information on the amount of a mixture of at least two substances. In this embodiment of the invention, control means of the system are therefore designed at least to carry out the activation of the dosage of a substance in a respective filling station and the activation of the drive means in a second operating mode of the system autonomously on the basis of at least one specification. As with semi-autonomous filling, the customer does not choose the ingredients for a product directly, but simply states his preferences, for example. With fully autonomous filling, however, no filling order is generated a priori with the dosing quantities of the individual stations. An order only contains basic specifications and limit values that must be adhered to and are derived from the customer's preferences. For example, if smoothies are to be filled, the specifications would be sweet, low in calories, free of citrus fruits, etc.

After such an order has been recorded by a reader, the system automatically fills it, with the filling stations and / or the drive means deciding autonomously on their activities. A large amount of information can flow into these decisions, including in particular information about the activities of the respective other components. The system components involved in the filling process continuously exchange data with one another, preferably via a communication protocol. In one embodiment of the invention, the control units of the filling stations and the drive means are therefore in communicative connection with one another, but preferably also in communicative connection with a further processing unit.

For example, the drive means initially decide, based on historical data and evaluations as well as on the basis of their own algorithm, which filling station an empty container is approached first, ie which substance is to be filled into the container. When this filling station has started, it decides on the basis of its own algorithm and taking into account the order-related specifications and its own specifications, which amount of its substance to put in the container should be dosed. In the newly created situation, the drive means then decide which filling station is to be approached next. This in turn decides which dosage to donate, taking into account the ingredients that have already been dosed and so on. After each of these individual filling processes, a check is carried out to determine whether the order specifications have been met as a whole. If this is the case, the filling process is completed. In this operating mode, too, the exact filling quantities, the batch numbers and the filling date of the individual ingredients are saved for documentation purposes.

In this fully autonomous operating mode, a self-learning filling system is preferably implemented, which is continuously and independently optimized. From this, products with the highest individuality and optimal properties are produced autonomously. In order to be able to establish a self-learning system, information about an evaluation of at least one mixture of at least two substances generated in the past is available to the system. This information is provided by a computing unit and contains, for example, information about the objective quality of a product and / or the subjective evaluation of a product by customers / users. In one embodiment of the invention, the filling stations and / or the drive means are thus designed to be self-learning, being connected to at least one processing unit via which information about an evaluation of at least one mixture of at least two substances generated in the past can be transmitted to them. The control means are then preferably designed to take into account at least one evaluation of at least one mixture of at least two substances generated in the past when activating the dosage of a substance in a respective filling station and activating the drive means in the second operating mode, ie in the control of the Allow the system to flow into the fully autonomous operating mode.

Depending on the operating mode, the control means for controlling the individual components of the system are implemented in different ways and at different positions within the system. In the case of filling with a filling order generated a priori, the control means are formed, for example, by at least one processing unit which transmits control commands to the filling stations and the drive means on the basis of a filling order. The control of the filling process is then controlled by a computing unit, the control commands of which are only implemented by the components of the system. The system components themselves then do not have to have any knowledge of the content of a filling order.

In another embodiment, which is used in particular for the fully autonomous operating mode, the control means are formed by control units of the filling stations and the drive means, so that these control units can autonomously decide on the activity of the respective component and control it. Consequently, in one embodiment, the control units of the drive means are designed to arrange a container autonomously based on at least one specification in a filling position opposite a selected filling station and / or the control units of the filling stations are designed to autonomously dispose a selected amount of a substance based on at least one specification Dosing container. It can be provided that each of these control units has stored all the information that is required for these decisions. Alternatively, the system components are in a communicative connection with a processing unit which does not control the components but stores essential information. This information can be called up from the system components.

Overall, a continuously networked system for the autonomous filling and mixing of individualized products can be provided. The invention also encompasses a method for operating such a system which has the method steps described individually or in combination.

Further advantages, special features and expedient developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following illustration of preferred exemplary embodiments using the figures.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Anlage,
• 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Abfüllstation; und
• 3 ein Ablaufdiagramm für verschiedene Betriebsmodi einer Anlage.

From the pictures shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system according to the invention,
• 2 a schematic side view of a filling station; and
• 3rd a flow chart for different operating modes of a plant.

1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system according to the invention 10 . The attachment 10 comprises several system components, the essential part of the system being formed by one or more filling lines in which a container can be filled with a substance at various filling stations. The system essentially consists of the technical components described below, which can be adapted, supplemented and expanded depending on the application. Thanks to the modular design, further filling stations can easily be replaced, added or removed. Through the concatenation of the system components, the system can be easily scaled and spatially rearranged. Several filling lines are preferably arranged in series, in parallel, in a star or in a network.

In the embodiment of 1 a filling line has a linear system 40 on. This linear system 40 sees a sled 42 before, which can be moved linearly along a rail system. On the sledge 42 is a container 20th placeable together with the slide 42 is proceeded. Several filling stations are arranged along the linear system 1 exemplary two filling stations with the reference numerals 30th and 30 ' Marked are. Each of these filling stations preferably has a control device, but in the 1 only one control device for simplification 31 the filling station 30th is shown. The linear system 40 likewise has a control device, with a control device as an example 41 on the sled 42 is provided. These control devices 31 and 41 the filling stations and the carriage 42 are in communicative connection with a computing unit 71 , which can also be referred to as a system control. This system control 71 is in turn in a communicative connection to a further processing unit 70 that realizes a product configurator, for example. The schematic representation of the two processing units 70 , 71 is to be understood only as an example and only serves to describe the functions of these system components. The arithmetic units 70 , 71 in particular also provide a database with customer data and customer ratings for products. The functions of these components to be described can be used in any suitable way within an IT infrastructure of the system 10 be realized.

A filling station 30th has a substance container for holding a substance. There is also a dispensing device 34 provided with a mechanism for the dosed release of the substance. A filling station 30th is carried out, for example, as in the embodiment of FIG 2 . A substance container 33 is here filled with a substance A and has a valve 34 for the dosed delivery of the substance. The substance container 33 is via a compressed air connection 37 connected to compressed air via a pressure sensor 35 is controllable. Furthermore, is on the substance container 33 preferably a level sensor 36 intended. The valve 34 is controlled by the control device 31 the filling station 30th controlled.

In addition to a filling line formed in this way 11 from the linear system 40 and several filling stations 30th , 30 ' further system components are optionally provided. These are based on the embodiment of 1 described, but their presence and their design is only to be understood as an example. For example, it is used to hold several containers 20 ' a separating system for one filling 50 intended. Containers arrive from this separation system 20 ' z. B. via a conveyor belt or a chute to a gripper 14th with which a container 20 ' is feasible. The container 20 ' can be put into the filling line immediately 11 implemented. In the embodiment of 1 however, the first step is to apply a label to a container. This identification takes place via a label which is applied to a container 20 ″ before filling. A label generator in the form of a label printer is used for this purpose 60 intended. Direct labeling, for example by means of inkjet or laser, is another possible variant. The label producer 60 is in a communicative connection with the processing unit 71 , via which information about an order to be carried out is transmitted to the label producer. A production order triggers the printing of a label that contains, for example, the complete product identification, such as the list of ingredients according to legal requirements, the filling quantity, the batch number, etc. The label also bears a clear identification of the filling order by means of an optical code or transponder, preferably by means of a barcode or a QR code.

The label printer 60 in this embodiment generates a label with a barcode, for example, from which information about the order can be read. One from the label printer 60 generated label is in a label gluing station 62 applied to a container 20 ". The gripper 14th To do this, places a container in the label gluing station 62 around.

The container is then released from the gripper 14th to the next station unset, which is through a labeling station 63 is formed. There the label is wound onto the container 20 '''. The label gluing station 62 and the labeling station 63 can also be combined to form a station. Of the 2 is such a label 21 as a barcode on a container 20th refer to.

The attachment 10 sees at least one reader for the automatic detection of this identification 21 on. For example, it is each a barcode reader. It is preferably at the beginning of the filling line 11 a reader 64 provided with which the marking on a container 20th is detectable at the beginning of the filling process. There is also a second reader 65 at the end of the filling line 11 provided, with which the completed filling process can be acknowledged. In addition, each filling station can optionally have its own reader. In the Embodiment of the 2 if the filling station has, for example, a reader 32 on which in communicative connection with its control unit 31 stands.

To the filling line 11 further optional system components follow, to which a filled container by means of an additional gripper 12th is feasible. For example, another separation system 80 be provided over which several closures 22nd separable and via a conveyor belt 81 a locking station 82 are supplied. In this closing station, a filled container is provided with a closure. A bottle is, for example, a screw cap that is screwed onto a bottle neck. Other types of closures are pressure closures, adhesive closures, welding closures, screw-on caps, bounce caps, etc. If the container is closed, it is closed using the gripper 12th in a mixing station 83 implemented, because in the present invention, the filled ingredients are only mixed at the end of the filling process or after the closure. This happens in the mixing station 83 . Then the filled and closed container 23 from the gripper 12th for removal from the filling plant, preferably on another conveyor belt 84 or put a slide.

From the conveyor belt 84 can be a filled and closed container 23 optionally a packaging system 85 are fed. This is done again, for example, using a gripper 13th , which is a container 23 ' into the packaging line 85 implements. There the packaging can be done manually or automatically.

Such a plant 10 can process production orders for the production of individualized products very flexibly, whereby this can be done in different ways and due to the structure of the system in particular in different operating modes. A production order is preferably issued in real time to the system, which immediately and independently produces the individualized product. The attachment 10 carries out the following steps, for example: configuration - labeling - filling - sealing - mixing - packaging. However, the system can also only be limited to configuration, filling, sealing and mixing.

Different variants are available for the configuration. 3rd shows the various variants for the manufacture of an individualized product based on a production order using a flow chart. At the beginning of the process there is a user input from a user of the system. This input is made, for example, via the computing unit 71 , which realizes a product configurator. The selected operating mode is determined on the basis of this input. A distinction is made between a first operating mode with a filling order and a second operating mode without a filling order. A filling order contains information about a certain composition of a mixture of several substances, ie a kind of recipe. This recipe contains information about the substances to be mixed and their quantities.

A filling order can be configured in various ways by a user. For example, in a variant 1) the user can select a product of his choice from prefabricated products. A ready-made recipe is already assigned to this product and can be selected. A filling order is then generated from this recipe. A system control for the individual manufacture of the product then takes place on the basis of this filling order.

In a further variant 2) the user configures a product himself. He chooses substances or ingredients and quantities himself, whereby the product configurator preferably takes legal requirements and limit values into account, so that the user is supported in configuring a permissible product according to his preferences . A recipe is also generated for this product with information about the substances to be mixed and their quantities. A filling order is generated from the recipe. A system control for the individual manufacture of the product then takes place on the basis of this filling order.

In a further variant 3) a partially autonomous configuration of a product takes place. For the user if a certain profile with preferences and / or previously generated products is already available and / or it indicates its current preferences. From these specifications, an algorithm determines an optimal composition of a product, which corresponds as closely as possible to the specifications of the user. Then follow the same steps of generating a recipe and a filling order that is used for a system control.

In the case of variants 1) to 3), a filling order is always generated through which the final composition of a product is determined before the actual filling process. This is not the case in a second operating mode without a filling order. In this operating mode, there is no creation of a recipe for a product with a certain composition, which is then only implemented by a system control. Rather, the system control and thus also the production of an individualized product takes place fully autonomously through the system. The final composition of a product is then only obtained at the end of the autonomous filling process. The user already has a specific profile with preferences and / or previously generated products and / or indicates his current preferences. The production order only contains basic specifications and limit values that must be adhered to and are derived from the customer's preferences. This information is used to generate specifications that the system can use 10 A mixture of several substances is generated fully autonomously through decentralized self-control of the system components. In addition, further information can be incorporated into these specifications, such as an evaluation of previously produced products. This evaluation can be aimed objectively at the quality of a product and / or it is a subjective evaluation by one or more users. The fully autonomous operating mode implements a self-learning filling system that is continuously and independently optimized. From this, products with the highest degree of individuality and optimal properties should be manufactured fully autonomously.

The attachment 10 is either designed so that it can be operated in a selected operating mode. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, however, it is designed so that it can be operated selectively in one of the two operating modes, which makes the system particularly flexible. Depending on the selected operating mode, the system components are controlled in different ways, so that control means are also used to control the filling stations 30th , 30 ' and drive means such as the linear system 40 become active differently in the two operating modes.

In the first operating mode with a filling order, for example, the computing unit identifies 71 via the reader 64 the filling order to be carried out by reading a barcode on an empty container. The arithmetic unit 71 then controls the slide 41 according to the recipe of the filling order to approach those filling stations one after the other whose substances are contained in the product to be manufactured. The arithmetic unit 71 also controls the respective filling stations 30th , 30 ' to dispense a defined amount of substance into a placed container. The filling stations 30th ; 30 ' and the drive means for placing a container are thus controlled by the arithmetic unit 71 controlled.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the computing unit identifies 71 the filling order and information on the filling stations to be approached are taken from the carriage 41 on the computing unit 71 queried. Becomes a container 20th move to a filling station, the filling station in question asks the processing unit 71 the amount of substance to be filled. There is thus a bi-directional communication between the processing unit 71 and the individual components.

In a further alternative, each filling station has its own reader 32 on. Becomes a filling station from the carriage 41 approached, your reader detects 32 the marking 21 , reads out the filling order and executes it for a substance. The sleigh too 41 can by reading in a filling order on the reader 64 autonomously approach the required filling stations, thereby establishing communication with the processing unit 71 is not absolutely necessary. In this variant, the control means for activating the drive means and the filling stations are relocated to a greater extent in the area of these system components themselves.

In particular for fully autonomous operation in the second operating mode, the control means are located in the area of the filling stations 30th , 30 ' and the drive means for moving a container 20th . These system components can access information from the processing unit 71 fall back and access them. However, each with its own algorithm, you independently make a decision about a substance to be filled and its quantity. In particular, unforeseen decisions can result, resulting in products that might not have resulted from a central algorithm. The filling stations are available for this purpose 30th , 30 ' and the sled 41 information about the activities of the other system components is preferably continuously available. This can be done via a direct communication link between the system components or via the processing unit 71 so that the system components involved in the filling process continuously exchange data with one another via a communication protocol.

After each filling process has been completed, the respective filling station reports completion, so that the linear system clears the container 20th can drive to the next filling station. The exact filling quantities, the batch numbers, the filling date of the individual ingredients are preferably stored in all operating modes of the system for documentation purposes. At the end of the filling line 11 acknowledges the reader 65 the completion of the bottling. The sled 41 of the linear system 40 moves back to the starting position and is ready for the next filling job.

In order to improve the accuracy when filling substances, a filling station preferably has a weighing device with which the weight and thus the amount of a substance dosed into a container can be checked. In the embodiment of 2 is in the sleigh 41 for example a load cell 43 integrated. Will a substance A in the container 20th dosed, the actual weight of the dosed substance is determined. To do this, first the weight of the container 20th tared with its content. Due to the filling order, the amount and thus the target weight of a substance to be dosed is known. Alternatively, the target weight of a defined, discrete filling cycle is known. The determined actual weight is compared with the respective target weight. If there is a deviation between the actual weight and the target weight above a certain threshold value, the dosing characteristics of the filling station become 30th changed in order to reduce the deviation in future fillings. For this purpose, for example, the parameters of the valve 34 changed. The calibration can take place autonomously without external intervention. It can also be done while the system is in operation.

List of reference symbols

10

investment

11

Filling line

12,13,14

Grapple

20, 20 ', 20' ', 20' ''

Container, empty

21st

Marking, label

22nd

Clasp

23.23 '

Container, filled and sealed

30.30 '

Filling station

31

Control device

32

Reader

33

Substance container

34

Dispensing device, valve

35

Pressure sensor

36

Level sensor

37

Compressed air connection

40

Linear system

41

Arithmetic unit

42

Sledge

43

Weighing device, load cell

50

Separation system for containers

51

Conveyor belt, slide

60

Label producers, label printers

62

Label gluing station

63

Labeling station

64.65

Reader

70

Computing unit, product configurator

71

Computing unit, system control

80

Isolation system closures

81

Conveyor belt

82

Locking station

83

Mixing station

84

Conveyor belt, slide

85

Packaging line

Claims (18)

Plant (10) for the automated generation of a variable mixture of at least two different substances (A; B) in a container (20; 20 '), the plant (10) having - At least two filling stations (30; 30 ') which are designed for the variable dosing of a respective substance (A; B) into a container (20; 20'); - Drive means which are designed for the variable arrangement of a container (20; 20 ') in a filling position opposite a respective filling station (30; 30'); and - Control means which are designed to control the dosage of a substance (A; B) in a respective filling station (30; 30 ') and to control the drive means. Plant after Claim 1 , characterized in that a quantity of a substance (A; B) is metered in a filling station (30; 30 ') in discrete, time-controlled filling cycles. Plant after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that at least one weighing device (31) is provided which is designed to determine the actual weight of a substance (A; B) dosed into a container (20; 20 ') at a filling station (30; 30'). Plant after Claim 3 , characterized in that the system (10) is designed to compare the actual weight determined by the weighing device (31) with a target weight which corresponds to the amount of the substance (30; 30 ') to be dosed at this filling station (30; 30') A; B) corresponds, and the system (10) is also designed to change the metering characteristics of the filling station (30; 30 ') when a Deviation between actual weight and target weight fulfills a certain condition. Plant according to the Claims 2 and 4th , characterized in that the system (10) is designed to change the duration of a discrete filling cycle at a filling station (30; 30 ') if the deviation between the actual weight and the target weight fulfills a certain condition. Plant according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the filling stations (30; 30 ') each have a pressurized substance container (33) from which a substance (A; B) can be dosed. Plant according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the control means are designed to activate the dosage of a substance (A; B) in a respective filling station (30; 30 ') and to activate the drive means in a first operating mode of the system (10) on the basis of a filling order , the quantitative information on a mixture of at least two substances (A; B) contains. Plant after Claim 7 , characterized in that the filling order a) is generated by a computing unit (71) based on a predetermined mixture of at least two substances (A; B), or that b) a computing unit (71) based on provided specifications a mixture of at least two substances (A; B) and a filling order is generated based on this defined mixture. Plant after Claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that the system (10) is designed to read a label (21), in which a filling order is stored, from a container (20; 20 ') before a filling process. Plant according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that control means are formed by at least one processing unit (71) which transmits control commands to the at least two filling stations (30; 30 ') and the drive means on the basis of a filling order. Plant according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 10 , characterized in that control means are designed to activate the dosage of a substance (A; B) in a respective filling station (30; 30 ') and the activation of the drive means in a second operating mode of the system (10) autonomously based on at least one specification perform. Plant according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that control means are formed by control units (31; 41) of the filling stations (30; 30 ') and the drive means, which are in particular in communicative connection with each other and with a computing unit (71) which is used to analyze, evaluate and hold ready historical data is formed. Plant after Claim 12 , characterized in that control units (41) of the drive means are designed to arrange a container (20; 20 ') autonomously on the basis of at least one specification in a filling position opposite a selected filling station (30; 30'). Plant after Claim 12 or 13th , characterized in that control units (31) of the filling stations (30; 30 ') are designed to autonomously dose a selected amount of a substance (A; B) into a container (20; 20') based on at least one specification. Plant according to one or more of the Claims 7 to 14th , characterized in that the system (10) can be operated selectively both in the first and in the second operating mode. Plant according to one or more of the Claims 11 to 15th , characterized in that the filling stations (30; 30 ') and / or the drive means are designed to be self-learning in the second operating mode, being in connection with at least one computing unit (70), via which they provide information about at least one evaluation of at least one in the Past generated mixture of at least two substances (A; B) can be transmitted. Plant according to the Claims 11 and 16 , characterized in that the control means are designed to activate the metering of a substance (A; B) in a respective filling station (30; 30 ') and the activation of the drive means in the second autonomous operating mode of the system (10) at least one Assessment of at least one mixture of at least two substances (A; B) produced in the past. Plant according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 17th , characterized in that it comprises a computing unit (70) via which at least information about user preferences and / or about a mixture to be generated of at least two substances (A; B) can be transmitted to the control means of the system (10).

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