DE202013104838U1 - Electronic architecture for the remote management of devices, in particular washing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic architecture for the remote management of a plurality of devices (11, 12, 13) for washing articles, characterized in that it comprises: - a control and control unit (14) on board each of the devices (11, 12, 13) ; - one or more access points (18) to a wireless, or partially wireless and partially wired communication network; - at least one portable tablet computer (19) provided with a wireless communication module (21) and equipped with a touch screen (20); wherein the control and control units (14) and the at least one portable tablet computer (19) are interconnected by access to the communications network via the one or more access points (18).

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic architecture for the remote management of a plurality of devices for industrial use, in particular washing devices for articles, wherein both a pre-treatment of the objects, such as a prewashing, with hot or cold water and / or with cleaning agents or other chemical products, as well as an actual washing, but also a thermal disinfection and / or sterilization are to be understood.

There are devices, or machines, for industrial use, in particular apparatus for washing articles known, both pretreatment of the objects, such as a prewash, with hot or cold water and / or with cleaning agents or other chemical products, as well as an actual Washing, but also a thermal disinfection and / or sterilization are understood.

In many work environments, the arrangement of a plurality of such devices, either close to each other or far apart, is provided in varying numbers depending on the type and amount of work to be performed.

Each device is connected to a controller, usually a programmable logic controller (PLC), usually by a serial cable.

Basically, the PLC reads analog and digital input signals coming from sensors and directed to actuators present in the device itself, processes them according to the program entered in them, and finally stores their status at the physical outputs, and thereby activates the outputs themselves.

In addition, each device may include or be associated with a screen, or display, which screen serves as a user interface to the operator. The aforesaid display, which is normally connected to the other parts of the device by a network cable or the like, allows to input the commands and / or parameters required for the proper functioning of the device, for example with regard to the duty cycle it has to perform.

A disadvantage of this known configuration is that the operator must necessarily be in close proximity to the device to physically interact directly with the user interface whenever he interfaces with the device to input the appropriate editing commands and / or the correct machining parameter, or any other parameter suitable for performing a desired work cycle.

This aspect can cause excessive time losses, such as in the case when the operator is temporarily unavailable, or is busy at other workstations or performing other operations.

Considering the variety of devices that need to be controlled, this aspect can involve an excessive amount of downtime due to movement from one workstation to another, even with the fact that each display can only communicate with the associated machine with which she is directly connected.

In addition, the known devices usually require individual programming.

As a result, such downtime can result in a reduction in productivity when a significant amount of equipment is used. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic architecture for the remote management of devices, in particular washing devices for industrial use, which facilitates and accelerates the communication with the devices just mentioned.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an architecture that enables a plurality of devices to be programmed automatically, simultaneously, or sequentially.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an architecture which allows to reduce the downtime between the working cycles of one or more of the above-mentioned devices belonging thereto.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to obtain these, as well as other objects and advantages, the Applicant has developed, studied and embodied the present invention.

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims constitute further features of the present invention or modifications of the main idea of solution.

In accordance with the above-mentioned goals becomes an electronic architecture According to the present invention, which overcomes the limitations of the prior art and eliminates the deficiencies therein, it is used for the remote management of a variety of industrial equipment, in particular article washers. By the word "management" is meant at least communication, and / or control and / or control of these devices.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above architecture includes a control and control unit on board each device, one or more access points to a wireless, or partially wireless or partially wired communication network, and at least one portable tablet computer provided with a wireless communication module ,

According to the invention, the control and control units and the at least one portable tablet computer are connected to one another by access to the communications network via the above-mentioned access point or the above-mentioned multiple access points.

This provides the ability to remotely manage the above devices without the need to physically interact directly with a user interface.

Advantageously, the architecture according to the present invention allows to limit the downtime, for example in the case when the operator is temporarily unavailable, and thereby obtain a considerable economic saving.

Also, a method for remotely managing a plurality of washers for articles is one of the purposes of the present invention.

Said method provides for providing a communication network based on one or more wireless communication access points for communicating a control and control unit on board each of the above-mentioned devices and at least one portable tablet computer.

The method further provides access to the communications network for remotely controlling each of the devices by means of the at least one portable tablet computer and executing a computer program that is common to the devices and / or specific to each device. The program may be stored in the portable tablet computer or remotely loaded into the portable tablet computer that controls and controls the operation of the devices.

Also included in the spirit of the present invention is an agent that is readable by a computer that contains instructions that cause a method as described above to be performed when executed by the portable tablet computer.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to program a plurality of such devices automatically, simultaneously or in order, and thus to reduce their duty cycles.

These and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 is the schematic representation of an electronic architecture according to the invention for communication with devices for industrial use;

2 a variant of 1 is;

3 another variant of 1 is.

To facilitate understanding, the same reference numerals for identical parts common to the figures are used as far as possible. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially received in other embodiments without further further explanation.

Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Each example is illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as limiting it. For example, the features that are illustrated or described as belonging to one embodiment may be applied to others or in conjunction with other embodiments to practice a further embodiment. It should be understood that the present invention includes such modifications and variations.

Referring to the attached figures, there is an architecture 10 according to the present invention for the remote management, which means at least the communication and / or the control and / or the control, a plurality of washing machines or machines 11 . 12 and 13 for industrial use, which are shown only schematically in the figures applicable.

In the present case, it may be in the above devices 11 . 12 and 13 to the For example, to deal with items' washers, such as medical, surgical or laboratory instruments, or other items that may be used in the hospital, healthcare, food, pharmaceutical, laboratory, research or the like or equivalent fields. The term "washing" can be understood as meaning both pretreatment of the objects, such as prewashing, hot or cold water and / or cleaning agents or other chemical products, as well as actual washing, but also thermal disinfection and / or sterilization.

The devices 11 . 12 and 13 They may either be all of the same type, ie capable of carrying out the same work, or they may be of different types, ie capable of carrying out different work both simultaneously and at different times, and may be combined with each other in a complex washing installation.

The devices 11 . 12 and 13 can be of the programmable type depending on the duty cycle they need to perform.

Every device 11 . 12 and 13 Furthermore, a control and control unit, in the present case a programmable logic controller, or PLC, 14 include.

Architecture 10 may further comprise at least one portable electronic device with user interface, in the present case a portable tablet computer, or computer, or tablet 19 , The tablet 19 Can be a touch-sensitive, or "touch screen" screen 20 ie, a screen that allows a user to interact with the computer by touching areas of the screen. The tablet 19 can be a wireless, or "wireless," transceiver module 21 include, for example, to connect to a wireless network. The wireless transceiver module 21 may implement a wireless communication protocol, such as Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, Infrared, ZigBee, or similar or comparable wireless protocols.

In the tablet 19 may be installed a computer program, or software, or software package that has been developed and programmed to work with each of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 to interact remotely for the purpose of managing them.

The tablet 19 is externally and physically separated and movable with respect to the devices 11 . 12 and 13 although it can be brought into wireless communication with these without, if necessary, the possibility of a direct connection through a cable, e.g. A USB cable, with one or the other device 11 . 12 and 13 excluded.

Architecture 10 comprises a wireless communication network operating on one or more access points, or "access point" (AP), 18 based on a wireless communication.

An access point 18 may be an electronic telecommunication device that allows a mobile user to connect remotely to a wireless or wireless network directly through a terminal that is provided with a wireless communication card or module. An access point 18 may be physically connected to a wired network or wirelessly to one or more other wireless communication modules or other access points to send and receive a radio signal to the user via antennas and transceivers, thereby enabling the connection in the form of radio access becomes.

An access point 18 may be connected by a wireless transceiver module provided with antenna, circuits and electronic components suitable for communication, an eventual electronic processor connected to, for example, electronic memory or possibly a program or software which is preloaded to manage at least the operations and basic configurations required for the communication.

An access point 18 can wireless communication between the tablet 19 and the devices 11 . 12 and 13 , in particular the respective PLC 14 to allow for their remote management.

As discussed in more detail below, embodiments of the present invention that are combinable with each other may have a single access point 18 with which the PLC 14 the devices 11 . 12 and 13 through a wired connection ( 1 ) or through a wireless connection ( 2 ), or a plurality of access points 18 , each of which directly aboard one of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 mounted and connected directly to the associated PLC ( 3 ).

In some embodiments, the devices may 11 . 12 and 13 sensors 15 which are capable of providing data about the functioning of the devices themselves 11 . 12 and 13 to capture, such. As temperature, pressure, properties of the washing or rinsing or drainage liquid, or other.

The devices 11 . 12 and 13 can furthermore actuators 16 which are only schematically illustrated in the figures, which are configured to be one from, for example, the sensors 15 and / or from the above PLC 14 to receive the command received.

Every PLC 14 is configured to perform a reading of analog and digital input signals from the sensors 15 and to the actors 16 are directed in each device 11 . 12 and 13 It processes them according to the program entered in them, and finally stores their status at the physical outputs, thereby activating the outputs themselves.

According to a first embodiment, each PLC is 14 , in the present case by a network cable, such. As an Ethernet cable 17 , with a communication access point 18 which allows a mobile user to connect to him directly through his or her terminal through a wireless or wireless network ( 1 ).

The access point 18 is, for example in Wi-Fi mode, with the tablet 19 connected. In this way, a communication architecture is obtained that allows, through the tablet 19 each of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 using the access point 18 to manage remotely as a communication interface. in some variants, the devices can also 11 . 12 and 13 also communicate with each other by going through the access point 18 for diagnostic purposes, redundancy or other purposes.

According to a variant, the access point 18 with the tablet 19 by wireless communication such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared, or ZigBee, or by any other wireless communication protocol.

The software that works in the tablet 19 is installed, for example, is configured to only one of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 or at least two of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 whether they are capable of performing the same work or other work, simultaneously or at different times.

Namely, the above-mentioned software may be designed to group together in an organized manner all the information and parameters necessary for the operation of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 are selectable so that their input becomes intuitive and immediate. For example, the software may be divided into a plurality of groups, or functions, each of which comprises the entirety of a first group of devices adapted to perform one type of processing, the entirety of a second group of devices adapted thereto; perform several operations in turn, or even manage others. Each of the above groups can be divided into subgroups.

In this way, depending on the cycle that needs to be performed, the operator may select the instructions and / or parameters necessary for the proper functioning of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 required are.

Because the tablet 19 As a portable communication device is configurable, the operator may advantageously move from one location to another location within a particular workspace, while maintaining the ability to maintain the equipment in any case 11 . 12 and 13 at any time by being within a certain distance corresponding to the transmission capacity of the signal from the access point 18 freely moving, for example, within the whole premises, or at least in part of it. In this way, the operator himself, always with the same tablet 19 , the activity of at least one of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 , or even from all devices, enable, visualize, control and manage without the need for it to be in close proximity to the device, minimizing downtime such as those associated with e.g. B. are required to reach the device to be controlled.

According to one variant, the SPS comprises 14 every device 11 . 12 . 13 a separate wireless communication card 18a to get to the access point 18 communicate with the distance from the devices 11 . 12 and 13 can be arranged ( 2 ).

With this solution, savings in terms of space and interconnections are obtained because the Ethernet cables 17 not available to any PLC 14 with the access point 18 outside the devices 11 . 12 and 13 connect. Moreover, with this solution, it is also possible to provide that the devices 11 . 12 and 13 using the individual wireless communication cards 18a For example, for diagnostic purposes, for redundancy of control or for other purposes, communicate directly with each other.

According to another variant, each of the devices 11 . 12 . 13 a private access point 18 integrate with the associated PLC 14 connected is ( 3 ).

The individual access points 18 that in every device 11 . 12 and 13 are integrated, replacing the access point 18 according to the first two variants, which, however, outside the devices 11 . 12 and 13 located. In this case, it is possible to have a point / point communication directly between each of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 and the tablet 19 in this case, the possibility is not excluded that the devices 11 . 12 and 13 using the individual built-in access points 18 communicate directly with each other.

In this way, even greater space savings are achieved because the access points 18 inside each of the devices 11 . 12 and 13 are mounted.

Advantageously, the use of the tablet brings 19 that with the access points 18 connected, an acceleration and a facilitation of communication. with the devices to be managed, both because it is possible, the devices 11 . 12 and 13 automatically, simultaneously or sequentially, as well as because it is possible to program the devices 11 . 12 and 13 programming directly from the location where the operator is located, whether he is far away from the equipment 11 . 12 and 13 or if he is near the equipment 11 . 12 and 13 is.

In addition, all parameters necessary for the functioning of the device 11 . 12 and 13 are useful, in an organized way within a single tablet 19 into groups, further facilitating the preparation of the machines.

These aspects mainly involve a reduction in downtime of the work cycles, and accordingly, higher productivity and cost savings.

Of course, on the previously described architecture 10 Changes may be made and / or parts added without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is also to be understood that while the present invention has been described in terms of some specific examples, one skilled in the art can readily realize many other equivalent forms of architecture having the features defined in the claims and thus all as defined in the claims Scope of protection.

Claims (10)

Electronic architecture for the remote management of a large number of devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) for washing articles, characterized in that it comprises: - a control and control unit ( 14 ) on board each of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ); - one or more access points ( 18 ) to a wireless, or partially wireless and partially wired communication network; At least one portable tablet computer ( 19 ) connected to a wireless communication module ( 21 ) and with a touch-sensitive screen ( 20 ) Is provided; the control and control units ( 14 ) and the at least one portable tablet computer ( 19 ) by accessing the communication network via the one or more access points ( 18 ) are interconnected. Architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable tablet computer ( 19 ) external to the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ). An architecture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one or more access points ( 18 ) for the connection with the control and control units ( 14 ) of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) are configured. An architecture according to claim 3, characterized in that the one or more access points ( 18 ) through a network cable ( 17 ) with one or more of the control and control units ( 14 ) are connected. An architecture according to claim 3, characterized in that the one or more access points ( 18 ) with one or more of the control and control units ( 14 ) by a wireless connection via a wireless communication card ( 18a ) aboard one or more of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) is mounted. Architecture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more access points ( 18 ) outside the equipment ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) are arranged. Architecture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more access points ( 18 ) on board the equipment ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) are mounted. Architecture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more access points ( 18 ) for connection to the at least one portable tablet computer ( 19 ) via a wireless connection to a corresponding wireless communication module ( 21 ) are configured. Architecture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each Control and Control Unit ( 14 ) with sensors ( 15 ) for collecting data and parameters concerning the functioning of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) connected is. An architecture according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising means readable by a computer containing instructions which, when taken from the portable tablet computer ( 19 ), which cause implementation, using the architecture, of a method which provides to provide a communication network which is located at one or more access points ( 18 ) for wireless communication to provide a control and control unit ( 14 ) on board each of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) and at least one portable tablet computer ( 19 ) connected to a wireless communication module ( 21 ) and with a touch-sensitive screen ( 20 ) is in communication with each other; to have access to the communication network to each of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) by means of the at least one portable tablet computer ( 19 ) remotely, and run a computer program that 11 . 12 . 13 ) and / or for each of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) and that in the portable tablet computer ( 19 ) or in the portable tablet computer ( 19 ), with which the operation of the devices ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) is controlled and controlled, can be loaded remotely.

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