EP2350755A1

EP2350755A1 - Method for controlling a system

Info

Publication number: EP2350755A1
Application number: EP09777852A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jürgen Herrmann; Marius Michael Herrmann
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2008-10-21
Filing date: 2009-08-13
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Also published as: US20110118868A1; WO2010045994A1; DE102008053765A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a system (175) configured for automatically handling vessels (176) designed for receiving bulk goods, and comprising a plurality of processing stations for the vessels (176), wherein processing stations are checked for functionality during operation of the system, and wherein processing stations identified as non-functional are defined as error locations for running operations, and are automatically excluded from further operation.

Description

Method for controlling a plant

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for controlling a plant, an arrangement for controlling a plant and a plant for automatically handling vessels.

Description of the Prior Art

There are different machines or equipment known, which are designed for automatic handling of vessels, such as. Of bottles. With such systems, it is, for example, possible with low personnel costs to fill vessels, such as bottles, or even to clean them before filling. Furthermore, it is conceivable, with the help of such machines or equipment, examine the respective vessels for a possible existing damage or pollution.

Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to a method for controlling a system, which is configured for the automatic handling of vessels, which are designed to receive bulk material, and has a number of processing stations for the vessels. When carrying out the method, processing stations are checked during operation of the system for functionality, with processing stations identified as functionally inoperable defined as defects for the current operation and automatically excluded from further operation become. A review of processing stations and / or vessels on the condition can be user-related and targeted controlled, so that a processing station and / or a vessel is checked at a suitable time targeted.

The method can be carried out for a system with processing stations in which vessels are arranged during operation, for example, the process for processing stations, which are designed for the transport of vessels, are performed. Furthermore, the method can be carried out for processing stations, which are designed to act on vessels during operation. These are, for example, processing stations which are designed for cleaning, for filling, for covering and / or for labeling vessels. Processing stations designed to fill vessels are typically referred to as filling stations or filling devices having valves for bulk goods to be filled into the vessels.

According to the method of the invention defined as a defect processing station during operation or in continuation of operation of the corresponding system automatically no vessel is supplied for processing, so that incorrectly processed by this processing station vessels, it is, for example, inadequately filled with bulk containers or insufficiently cleaned vessels are avoided. This, in turn, means that rejects of defective containers during operation can be significantly reduced.

[0006] Within the scope of the method, a processing station defined as a defect can automatically be deactivated. be fourth, if no vessel is arranged in this. In the case of a filling station, for example, the respective valve or valves of the filling station can be put out of action, so that it is no longer possible to fill a vessel with bulk material.

[0007] As a further measure, a status report can be provided via a processing station defined as a defect. Furthermore, this processing station can be maintained at a definable time, in particular after completion of the operation of the system. The status report can u. a. with at least one sensor detected information to include the faulty processing station and used in the maintenance accordingly. This may u. a. to provide information about mechanical and / or electronic defects from the respective processing station.

In one variant of the method, at least one operating parameter of the system can be changed during operation, depending on the type and number of processing stations defined as defects. This can u. a. mean that as the at least one operating parameter, a frequency adapted to the processing of the vessels suitably adjusted, typically increased, whereby, for example, a speed of the system is increased. Thus, a processing station lacking a shutdown can be compensated for in the performance of the system, so that, despite the failure of the at least one processing station, the same number of vessels can be charged, eg filled.

[0009] It is also possible, in the event of a check of the serviceability of the processing stations during ongoing operation of the installation, for After filling a filling level for the bulk material is determined and checked whether the filling level height is within or outside a predetermined tolerance range for this level height. In this case, on the one hand, a vessel can be sorted out if the fill level is outside the tolerance range for the fill level. Furthermore, it is provided that it is ascertained at which processing station the respective vessel whose level height is outside the tolerance range for the filling level height has been filled, and that this processing station is defined as a defect and automatically excluded from further operation of the plant. This can also take place retroactively, if a check of the filling height only takes place after the filling of the vessel, when the vessel has passed through at least one further processing station, since it is also comprehensible at which processing station the vessel has been filled.

In an embodiment of the method, it is possible to randomly check processing stations for functionality. In general, it is conceivable that, during operation of the plant, a sequence of processing steps which are carried out by corresponding processing stations is repeated cyclically in processing cycles. For random checking of the processing stations is now proposed to specify in a kind of schedule in which the processing rounds which processing stations to be checked. This suitably prescribed by a user flow chart for sampling on the basis of which the samples processed processing stations to be checked for functionality can be retrieved stored. At runtime The operation of the system can thus be retrieved in which processing round which processing stations of the number of processing stations are to check for functionality. As a result of this measure, processing stations provided for checking can be selected in a targeted manner, wherein the respective check is likewise carried out in the case of a specifically selected processing cycle.

[0011] This means, for example, that in order to check filling stations in filling laps that are specified in the flowchart, the respective filling stations to be filled in each case are taken as samples from their respective filling stations, and their respective filling is checked. Functionally similar processing stations can subsequently be checked during various processing cycles. This offers u. a. then, if the processing stations such as. Filling stations are in the immediate or at least indirect neighborhood. Thus, for example, a collision of vessels, which are acted upon in adjacent processing stations, can be avoided when they are taken as samples.

Containers that are further identified as incorrectly filled regardless of the targeted sampling using the flowchart, because, for example, a level of fill level of the filled bulk material is too high or too low, can, for example, by a function "select rejeet" specifically independently of the current sampling in a separate step, ie, for example. By a separate Ausleitsystem be removed.

A filling station and thus a valve which has filled the insufficiently filled vessel, can easily be identified, as for each vessel an accurate assignment to processing stations that act on the vessel is provided. Taking into account this assignment, the incorrect filling valve and thus the respective filling station can be defined as a defect and be excluded from the current operation.

The invention also relates to an arrangement for controlling a plant, wherein the plant for the automatic handling of vessels, which are designed to receive bulk material, is configured and has a number of processing stations for the vessels. The arrangement is designed to check processing stations during operation of the system for functionality, and to define as non-functionally identified processing stations for the current operation as defects and to exclude automatically from another operation.

This arrangement is typically designed to carry out at least one step of the above-described method according to the invention.

The arrangement may include at least one sensor which is associated with at least one processing station and adapted to detect a state of an operating parameter of the respective processing stations and / or a state of a vessel to be processed at the processing station. Such a sensor can also be designed as an additional component of the system and cooperate accordingly in carrying out the method with the arrangement. Furthermore, the invention also includes a corresponding system which is designed for automatic handling of vessels and has an arrangement according to the invention described above.

This system is designed in a variant to handle vessels that are, for example. As bottles, to handle automatically. With the plant usually other containers or containers, which are suitable for receiving bulk material, are handled.

The system according to the invention is designed to control a state of the vessels and thus to regulate and / or control. This system has as a processing station u. a. at least one conveying device for transporting vessels, at least one filling station or filling device with valves for filling the containers with a bulk material, and at least one sensor for checking a state or a functionality of at least one processing station and / or a state of at least one vessel.

With the at least one conveyor, the vessels can be transported within the system to different processing stations of the system. Furthermore, at least one conveying device can additionally be provided for at least one processing station of the system, so that the vessels, for example, can likewise be transported during a filling operation at the corresponding processing station of the filling station.

The inventive system has in further

Design at least one sensor for checking a respective state of at least one processing station and / or one or more vessels. This includes the measure to check at least one processing station and / or a vessel for its functionality. It can be determined whether the vessel is suitable for filling with a corresponding bulk material. The checking of the respective state of a vessel may alternatively or additionally also comprise the measure according to which a content or a space enclosed by the vessel is checked. It can be determined to what extent the vessel is filled with bulk material and / or if this vessel may be contaminated. If a vessel is diagnosed as unsuitable for operation of the plant, a processing station in which such vessel is located may be defined as a defect.

In addition, the plant described as a processing station comprise at least one filling or filling device for filling the respective vessels with the bulk material. It can also be provided that the plant has as a processing station at least one cleaning device for cleaning the vessels. Usually, the cleaning of the vessels is done before filling or refilling the vessels.

In the context of the above-described method according to the invention, inter alia, a control and thus control and / or regulation of the system are provided, which are designed for the automatic handling of vessels which are designed to receive bulk material. The method comprises a number of method steps, for example checking steps for checking processing stations and / or vessels. In this case, individual method steps of the method according to the invention can be preconfigured as branches of a tree structure. displayed and logically linked and executed with appropriate activation. Each branch of the tree is made up of algorithms, ie rules of action. Several algorithms are typically linked together and can be executed appropriately when the corresponding branch is run. In this case, an action rule can be designed as a specification for implementing a corresponding method step or sub-step. In a further refinement, levels of the tree structure, such as, for example, a corresponding check tree, can be hierarchically structured.

In a variant of the method is a user of the plant to be controlled, the tree structure with the branches and levels on a display device of a suitable device, which interacts with the system shown. The display device can serve as an interface between a respective user of the system and the system, so that the user can track, monitor and possibly also influence an automatic handle of the vessels to be carried out by the system with the aid of the display device. For example, it is possible to intentionally also manually define machining stations that have caused an error during operation as malfunctions and specifically exclude them from further operation of the system. The latter can also be done automatically. The described display device is generally designed as a display field, for example a screen, with the aid of which the method steps, for example, are to be visualized as illustrated levels. The display device can also be designed for the acoustic representation of the method steps and thus have a loudspeaker. It is possible that an execution of an algorithm, as part of a corresponding branch, ie a corresponding method step is dependent on a definable condition. Furthermore, the algorithms can be divided into categories. In this case, it is provided in one embodiment that each category is identified by a suitable symbol, with such a symbol being inherited by the algorithms of the category and thus transmitted. Alternatively or additionally, a level of the tree structure for reference to one or more of the respective level assignable algorithms can be represented by one or more such symbols and displayed according to the display device. Usually, the individual levels of the tree structure are displayed with the display device. Within a displayed plane, other levels of the tree structure can be displayed by corresponding symbols, which are mapped, for example, to operating objects or display fields.

[0026] It is also possible that results of respective method steps and thus of subtasks are displayed to the user via the display device. In a further embodiment, it can further be provided that statistics are provided for at least one working step of the installation on the basis of the results. This also opens up the possibility that, using at least one result of the statistics provided for the at least one work step, at least one operating parameter is set for an operation to be carried out in the future or for at least one work step of the installation. Accordingly, the work steps to be carried out in the future can be adjusted in the context of the operation, taking into account already performed work steps and thus, for example, to be optimized. This is typically done taking account of processing stations that are defined as defects and that are not used in the continuation of operation, ie excluded from ongoing operation.

The method is suitable in a design for a system that for controlling, cleaning and / or filling of bottles with a liquid as Schüttbzw. Fill is configured.

In the context of the method, the checking may include controlling, adjusting and / or regulating the respective installation. The automatic handling of vessels and in particular bottles comprises, for example, checking the vessels for breakage and / or filling the vessels with a debris or filling material intended for this purpose. Furthermore, it can also be provided that during the handling of the vessels they are cleaned.

As vessels can be treated automatically by the system, for example. Bottles. A filling of the vessels is generally carried out with bulk material, wherein such a bulk material as a liquid or as a free-flowing substance comprising a plurality of particles, for example. As a granule or powder, may be formed.

In addition, at least one input module can also be provided, which usually interacts with the arrangement and allows a user to input data, such as operating parameters, and which is further configured to send operating parameters entered by a user to the user forward respective system, so that, for example, at least one step and thus at least one function of the system can be selectively controlled or adjusted directly. This is done, inter alia, taking into account the defined as defects processing stations of the system. The input module may include, among other things, operating elements or control buttons that can be actuated by a user of the system during operation. The input module can also be used to program a sequence of inspections of processing stations and / or vessels. This means that the above-described sampling schedule can be entered via the input module. Faulty vessels can be sorted out automatically and / or by operating the input module targeted. A filling station comprising a valve, which has caused a fault for a vessel, for example due to incorrect filling, can also be manually defined as a defect by the input module.

The described arrangement according to the invention is designed to perform all the steps of the proposed method according to the invention. In this case, individual steps of this method can also be carried out by individual components of the arrangement. Furthermore, functions of the arrangement or functions of individual components of the arrangement may be configured as steps of the method.

With a computer program with program code means all steps of a described method can be performed when the computer program is executed on a computer or a corresponding computing unit, in particular in an inventive arrangement.

[0033] A computer program product with program code means stored on a computer-readable data medium. are configured to perform all the steps of a described method, when the computer program on a computer or a corresponding processing unit, in particular in an inventive arrangement, is executed.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention is illustrated schematically by means of embodiments in the drawings and will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a topology of an embodiment of a system according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a system according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a system according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a system according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows, in a schematic representation, an example of a result of a diagnosis, as illustrated in the context of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 6 shows, in a schematic representation, an exemplary statistic as it is represented in the context of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a first detailed statistics for the statistics presented with reference to FIG.

Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of a second detail statistics.

FIG. 9 shows a representation of errors detected on the basis of the detail statistics already presented in a schematic representation.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of details of a method step to be carried out in the context of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Figure 11 shows a schematic representation of a summary of a tree structure, as it can be provided according to an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 12 shows, in a schematic representation, an example of a sampling or sampling mode, which is shown in FIG As part of an embodiment of the method according to the invention is provided.

Detailed description

The figures are described in a cohesive and comprehensive manner, identical reference symbols designate the same components.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a topology of an embodiment of a system 2 according to the invention. The system 2 comprises a plurality of sensors 4 configured as cameras, at least one processing station designed as an actuator 6 for loading vessels, three arithmetic units 8, and one embodiment a device 10, which are each identified by means of suitable symbols. This device 10 comprises a display device 12 designed as a monitor and a memory device 14 which is designed for processing and storing data which are generated during implementation of the method according to the invention during operation of the system 2.

By the topology of Appendix 2 is a user or user and thus, for example. A service technician for the system a "one-view diagnosis of a corresponding application" provided that provides the user with an overview of the structure of the system 2 and thus a corresponding system. To implement a variant of the method according to the invention, the user is also provided with an overview of a state of processing stations of the system 2. Thus, during operation of the system 2, the user can access defective processing stations. which are defined as defects.

Figures 2 and 3 show two embodiments of equipment 172, 174 configured to automatically handle vessels 176. In this case, both systems 172, 174 comprise as a first processing station a conveying device 178, a second processing station designed as a clamping star 180, with which a circular transport of the vessels 176 can be carried out, and a filling device 182 as a third processing station. The two systems 172, 174 differ in detail through conveyor modules of the respective conveyor 178. In this case, a conveyor module of the first system 172 from FIG. 2 is designed as an inlet screw 184.

The conveyor module of the second system 174 of Figure 3 comprises two mutually parallel treadmills 186, between which a container to be transported 176 is trapped during transport. By providing the treadmills 186, a speed at which the vessels 178 are supplied to the staple star 180 can be regulated. As the speed slows down, 180 vessels 176 are not supplied to all the receiving stations of the staple star, and thus 180 gaps are created between receiving stations of the staple star 176 occupied by vessels 176. By providing such gaps further only selected valves of the filling device 182 are equipped with vessels 176. This results in the possibility of excluding valves defined as defects from the operation, inter alia, by the fact that no vessels 176 are supplied to these valves. A third embodiment of a system 175 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. This plant 175 comprises, as processing stations, a feed device 178a designed as an inlet, a feeding staple star 180a, a filling device 182, an exporting staple star 180b, and a delivery device 178b designed as a discharge. During operation of this system 175, empty containers 176 are fed to the filling device 182 via the conveyor 178a and the feeding staple star 180a. The processing station designed as filling device 182 comprises a number of further processing stations, which include valves for filling the vessels 176. Usually, the filling device 182 comprises a few dozen, usually about 100 valves. The containers 176 filled with bulk material or filling material in the filling device 182 are supplied to the exporting stapling star 180b after filling and furthermore to the conveying device 178b designed as a discharge.

In addition, the system 175 shown in FIG. 4 comprises an embodiment of an arrangement 250 according to the invention for controlling this installation 175. This arrangement 250 comprises a first sensor 252 in the form of a camera, which is assigned to the feed device 178a configured as an inlet, a second one sensor 254 designed as a camera, which is assigned to the filling device 182, and a third sensor 256, likewise designed as a camera, to which the conveying device 178b designed as a discharge is assigned. With the sensors 252, 254, 256 assigned to the named processing stations, a state of a respective processing station, ie the two conveying devices 178a, 178b and the filling device, is sensory in an embodiment of the method. Device 182 determined. In addition, by the sensors 252, 254, 256 further states of vessels 176, which are acted upon within the mentioned processing stations, detected. In this case, at least by the third sensor 256, which is associated with the discharge device 178b designed as a discharge, after filling the vessels 176, a height of a filling level of the bulk material to be filled into the vessels 176 is detected.

After determination of states of processing stations and / or vessels 176, the detected states are checked by the arrangement 250. Consequently, a decision on their functioning is made on the basis of sensory data collected by the processing stations.

With regard to the processing stations designed as valves of the filling device 182, a check of a state of the respective valves during a processing round can be targeted. Thus, it is possible to check adjacent valves in different processing cycles. In the case of the filling device 182, one processing round corresponds to a filling round in which the filling device 182 rotates through 360 °, so that each valve, after completing a processing cycle, again assumes the position within the system 175 which it assumed at the beginning of the processing cycle. In particular, adjacent valves can thus be checked for different processing cycles, ie an n-th valve is checked in a 1-th processing cycle and a n + l-tes valve is checked at a m-th processing round. Thus, it is possible to prevent a collision of vessels 176, which are acted upon by adjacent valves and have to be discharged after filling for checking the respective valves. prevent. In order to increase the operational reliability of the system 175, any number of other valves can be located between two valves that are checked and thus checked in immediately consecutive processing cycles. If a check of a valve should show that it is faulty, then this processing station comprising the valve is defined as a fault and excluded from the current operation of the system 175. For this purpose, it is provided that the processing station identified as a fault is not supplied with a vessel 176 during the course of operation.

In addition, the system 175 comprises a first discharge system 258 and a second discharge system 260. Here, each discharge system 258, 260 comprises a collection station 262 which is designed to receive sorted vessels 176. The arrangement 250 is assigned a first sorting module 264 for the first discharge system 258 and a second sorting module 266 of the second discharge system 260. These Aussortiermodule 264, 266 are adapted to be acted upon by the arrangement 250 to transfer vessels 176 by moving from the second conveyor 178 b in the collecting stations 262.

In this case, vessels 176 are transferred into the collecting station 262 of the first discharge system 258, for which it is determined during a check by the sensor 256 that their level of the filling level is outside a prescribed tolerance range, so that either such vessels 176 too much bulk or too little bulk was filled.

The second discharge system 260 is used for a targeted sampling, with a further review a state of already filled vessels 176 is made.

By operating a display device 268, a user of the system 175 is enabled to control the arrangement 250 and thus to control and / or regulate it. Thus, the user can select which vessel 176 from which valve or filling station of the filling device 182 is supplied to the collecting station 262 of the second discharge system 260 for further checking. It is also possible by operating the display device 268, which is a valve comprehensive processing station of the filling device 182 is selected at which filling round for review. A selection can be individually generated, saved and retrieved.

Vessels 176, which are not sorted, are transported via the second, designed as a discharge conveyor 178b, for example. To a not further shown, designed as a labeling machine processing station and provided there with labels.

A sorting out of vessels 176 can be activated by a select reject, whereby those vessels 176 are selected and sorted out by the first rejection system 258, for which one of the upstream sensors 254, 256 at the earliest during the filling process. In the case of a respective vessel 176 and / or after the filling has been completed, it is sensed that the bulk material filled in the respective vessel 176 has an incorrect fill level, since an association is usually provided which vessel is acted upon by which processing station during which operation through which valve and thus by processing station, the vessel 176 has been filled incorrectly. The valve through which the wrong filling has taken place is defined automatically or by activation of the named operating object ("select reject") as a defect.

With the display device 268, which cooperates with the arrangement 250 under data exchange, the user interfaces shown in Figures 5 to 12 can be displayed to a user of the system. Thus, the user is enabled to control and thus control and / or regulate a function of the system 175 via the device 268. A feasible with the display device 268 control of the system 175 includes u. a. also a check of a state of processing stations of the system 175 and / or vessels 176, which are acted upon by processing stations of Appendix 175.

When implementing the method according to the invention valves comprehensive processing stations of the filling device 182, if they are identified as malfunctioning, defined as defects. Thus, loading or non-loading of valves with vessels 176 can be controlled. Valves that are defined as defects will not continue to be loaded with vessels 176 during operation. A repair of defects is usually performed after completion of a running operation of the system 175. Thus, it is not necessary to turn off the system to remedy a fault in a processing station extra. Depending on how many processing stations are defined as defects and excluded from ongoing operation, at least one operating parameter of the system 175 can be further adapted to a number of processing stations defined as defects. Thus, it is possible despite failure of Processing stations, possibly valves of the filling device 182, to maintain a production setpoint for a number of vessels 176 to be filled by, for example, a frequency for processing the vessels is increased as operating parameters.

The third sensor 256 serves as a filling height measuring bridge for checking the level of the filling level of the bulk material within a filled vessel 176. The sensors 252, 254, 256, which are usually designed as cameras, can be used as optical camera systems, high-frequency conductivity measuring systems, gamma Radiation bridges and / or Röntgenrad- lenmessbrücken be formed, with which usually the height of the level can be accurately determined using electromagnetic waves.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a result 58, represented by a tree structure 20, of a diagnosis of operating stations and / or vessels or bottles carried out during the method. In the final evaluation shown here, levels of the tree representing the method for the control unit (ICU), for a state of the processing stations and / or the bottles ("bottles") as well as for the attributes ( "Attributes") in succession. A first display element 60 can be used to select between a representation of a fill level ("Fililevel"), a position of a cap ("Cap Position"), and a "Cap Type". A second display element 62 indicates that in the exemplary illustration shown here, the vessels or containers ("containers") to be treated in the context of the method are bottles ("bottles"). A third display element 64 indicates that here a fill level ("Fililevel") of a liquid with a liquid filled bottle 66 is selected. As a result 58, a fill level resulting from a previously carried out evaluation is now identified for the bottle 66 by an arrow 68, wherein a level of the fill level is due to a functional capability of a processing station designed to fill the bottle.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a general statistic 70 in a further plane within the tree structure 20. It is shown here in a first display field 72 that a current state of the plant, usually at least one processing station, is "in order "is classified (" machine state is ok! "). A second display field 74 shows a first overview, according to which a total of "zero" vessels were handled automatically, with "zero" vessels designated as "good" and "zero" vessels as "bad" ("bad"). were complained about. A second panel 74 provides information on a number of overfilled bottles, underfilled bottles, and cap fault. If an error occurs during handling of the vessels, this may be due to a malfunction of a processing station.

In addition, the plane on which the general statistic 70 is shown has further operating objects 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106 , 108, 110 with different symbols. In this case, a closure is depicted on the operating object 78, so that a state of a closure can be checked or displayed via this operating object 78. The operating object 80 stands for a check of a respective filling level of a bottle. Help can be called up via an operating object 82 become. Via a control object 84, which represents a flag here, a language for display and / or input can be selected. The operating object 86, which represents a wrench here, stands for a maintenance or assembly to be carried out of at least one processing station defined as being inoperable. The operating object 88 stands for a visual check of a bottle. The operating object 90, on which two intermeshing gears are shown, stands for operations to be selected. An operating object 92, on which two persons are shown, represents an individual selection of a user. With the operating object 94, it is possible with the implementation of a so-called reset previously set operating parameters. The operating object 96 is for closing the statistics 70 shown here. The operating object 98 stands for a selection of a user. Help can also be called up with the operating object 100. The operating object 102 serves to store operating parameters. An operating object 104 serves to compare different processing stations and / or vessels and thus bottles. With the operating object 106, it is possible to give alarm or trigger. With the operating object 108, a bar statistic and with the operating object 110 a statistic in the form of a diagram can be displayed.

A detailed statistics 112 of the tree structure 20 is shown schematically in FIG. Again, various operating objects are shown. Here is an operating object 114 for bar statistics, with an operating object 116, on which a cup is shown here, a best processing station and thus a best valve of the system can be selected, an operating object 118 is used to select a worst processing station and thus one worst valve. An operating object 120 stands for a detailed representation of a processing station. An operating object 122 represents a selection of a processing station. With a control object 124, a time-dependent representation of the bar statistics can be selected and assistance can be requested with an operating object 126.

Among the seven operating objects 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 and 126, which are shown in a first row of detail statistics 112, a second row of operating objects is shown, the left a first selection button 128 for selecting an operating parameter and on the right a second selection button 130, which is likewise designed to select an operating parameter. On the other operating objects 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, the numbers "24", "13", "8", "49" and "47" are shown. These mentioned numbers stand for different processing stations, for which statistics can be selected via these operating objects 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, so that the functionality of these processing positions is checked.

In addition, the detail statistics includes a filter with four superimposed operating objects 142, 144, 146, and 148. In this case, the first operating object 142 shows a bottle insufficiently filled by a processing station, a second operating object 144 a bottle overfilled by a processing station, a third one Operating object 146 is a clock for displaying a time and a fourth operating object 148 is a cross for retrieving the representation of the detail statistics 112.

A first display field 150 within the detail statistics shows a bar graph for display insufficiently filled vessels (black) and overfilled vessels (light) as a function of time. A second display field 152 also shows a diagram of an operating parameter of the system as a function of time.

FIG. 8 likewise shows the detailed statistics 112 from FIG. 7, which is now superimposed with an additional field 154, explanations of the operating objects already presented with reference to FIG. 7 being shown in this additional field. In this case, the operating object 118 with the thumb pointing downwards represents a worst processing station and thus a worst valve of the system ("show worst valves"). The operating object 122 stands for a selection of a workstation to be checked for functionality, here for a "select valves". The operating object 132 with the number "47" stands for a valve statistics and thus for a statistics for processing stations. The operating object 142 stands for a sorting of valves after a number of overfills by malfunctioning processing stations. The operating object 146 stands for a selection of a time span ("select time span"). The operating object 148 stands for an error statistics ("show fault history"). The operating object 144 also stands for a sorting of the processing stations and thus valves after a number of overfills. The operating object 148 stands for switching off a filter. The operating object 120 represents a representation of details of a selected processing station, for example a selected valve, and the operating object 116 represents a representation of a best processing station, for example a best valve.

9 shows a schematic representation of an error history 160, as described in the context of the tree structure 20 is pictured. In this case, this error history 160 comprises in a first display field 162 three operating objects 164, 166, 168, on which arrows are depicted, and by means of which jumping between different levels within the tree structure 20 is possible. In addition, in this display field 162, a current date, here the 04. May 2008, displayed. In a second display field 170, the error history 160 is shown in tabular form. Here are in a first column times ("time"), in a second column reasons for rejection ("reason for rejection"), in a third column, a number of a processing station, here a valve ("valve"), in a fourth column a name for a product ("product"), in a fifth column a speed ("speed") and in a sixth column a name of a respective user ("user").

In fault history 160, four incidents are displayed. The first incident occurred at 12:34 due to insufficient filling at a processing station, with the valve "89", at 12:45 there was insufficient filling again ("underfilled") at a processing station, with the Valve "33", at a third incident at 12:50 pm, a faulty "cap" was displayed on a processing station, with the valve "45". In addition, at 13:01 o'clock, there was an overfilled at a processing station, with the valve "71". All four incidents occurred when filling cola into 0.33 1 containers ("coke 0.33 1") at a speed of 50,000 units under the supervision of the user Müller ("mueller").

The error history 160 shown here enables a defined query of a sequence, for example, of a process for filling containers with appropriate debris or filling material in corresponding to be controlled processing stations of the plant. In this case, among other things, for example, an optimal speed for a respective product can be determined. With the error history 160, it is also possible to perform an offset correction of a filling volume for a vessel for individual processing stations and thus valves per product and speed. This includes the measures to increase a frequency for processing vessels by processing stations, if at least one processing station was defined as a defect and excluded from the ongoing operation of the system. A lack of processing stations can be compensated by increasing the frequency. It can also be done by operating objects 164, 166, 168 an exclusion or a blocking of individual provided for filling the vessels processing stations or valves. In addition, a closure of a defective vessel or a defective bottle by a processing station excluded from operation can be suppressed and thus prevented.

FIG. 10 shows, in a diagrammatic representation, a further plane 188 of the tree structure 20, via which a bottle break (bottleburst) caused by a faulty processing station is documented. This level 188 comprises a first display field 190, which indicates at which processing station or at which valve the bottle break occurred; in the example shown here is the fifth valve. A second display field 192 serves to display a first adjacent shaft, and thus directly adjacent bottles of the broken bottle. A third display field 194 serves to represent a second neighborhood of the broken ones Bottle, ie bottles spaced from the broken bottle by a bottle, and a fourth display panel 196 representing a third neighborhood of the broken bottle and thus bottles spaced from the broken bottle by two bottles.

With the aid of this level 188 of the tree structure 20 shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to set how long the nonfunctioning processing station and thus a valve which caused the bottle to break and its neighboring valves remain unused. Thus, a shutdown of the dysfunctional processing station or the respective valve, or blocking a bottle transfer for the corresponding processing station is possible. Furthermore, there is the possibility of a statistical analysis of the bottle breakage with regard to various operating parameters of the plant, for example the position, the speed, the processing stations or the bottled product.

A summary 198 as another level of the tree structure 20 is shown schematically in FIG. In this case, this summary 198 also includes a ^{plurality of operating objects} 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210. The ^{operating objects} 200, 202, on which a "+ ^■■ " and a "-" sign are mapped, can be used to zoom in on the display In addition, operating object 204 serves for opening a folder, operating file 206 for storing a file, and operating object 208 for managing a file A first display field 212 indicates in which processing station the processing station is to be filled by the valves a rejection has occurred ("reflection on lane 4"). A second display field 214 is shown in FIG a first column of a tabular representation a number of processing stations, here valves, from 1 to 11 and a corresponding number of rounds or processing rounds ("turn") / in which a respective valve is examined for its functioning.

With the tabular list shown in the second display field 214, each user can compile and deposit his own "sampling list" or summary list. It can be provided in an embodiment of the method that templates exist for different filler types of a plant.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of a sampling or sampling mode 216 as a further level of the tree structure 20. In this case, a first display field 218 comprises a start button 220 and a pause button 222 as well as another operating object 224 for providing assistance. With the start button 220, a review of processing stations can be started. With the pause button 222, it is always possible to interrupt the check by pressing. In addition, in the display field 218, parameters for a start of the summary ("Start of sampling", 07.12.08 at 12:01 o'clock) and information about a current run of the summary here "15" are shown. In a second display field 226, a plurality of operating objects 228, 230, 232, 234, 238, 240 and 242 are shown. These last-mentioned operating objects 228, 230, 232, 234, 238, 240, 242 are processing stations of the plant comprising different valves, wherein on each of these operating objects 228, 230, 232, 234, 238, 240, 242 a respective number of a respective processing station and therefore a respective valve is displayed. By operating or activating the operating objects 228, 230, 232, 234, 238, 240, 242, it is possible to exclude a respective processing station comprising a valve from production ("next valves to reject"), if these are defined as defects.

This summary mode 216, as exemplified in FIG. 13, allows the user of the facility to activate sampling and control vessels.

Claims

claims

A method of controlling a plant (2, 172, 174, 175) configured to automatically handle vessels (176) adapted to receive bulk material and having a number of processing stations for the vessels (176), wherein for each vessel an accurate assignment to processing stations, which act on the vessel is provided, processing stations are checked during operation of the system to a functioning, and wherein identified as nonfunctional processing stations for ongoing operation respectively defined as a defect and of a further operation are automatically excluded, wherein when checking the functionality of the processing stations for at least one during operation at a verifiable processing station to be filled vessel (176) after filling determines a level height of the bulk material and checks whether the filling level is within or outside a tolerance range for the level height and wherein the at least one vessel (176) is sorted out, if the level height is outside the tolerance range for the level height, and the corresponding processing station defined as a defect and the further operation of the system automatically is excluded.

2. The method according to claim 1, which is carried out for processing stations that during operation for loading the vessels (176), for example. For cleaning, filling, supply Deckein and / or for labeling the vessels (176) are formed.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, which for processing stations, as filling stations with

Valves are designed for einzufüllendes in the vessels bulk material is executed.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a machining station defined as a defect is automatically deactivated.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a machining station defined as a defect is automatically fed during operation, no vessel (176) for processing.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a status report is provided via a processing station defined as a defect and this processing station at a definable time, in particular after completion of the operation of the system (2, 172, 174, 175), is maintained.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one operating parameter of the system (2, 172, 174, 175) is changed during operation, depending on the type and number of processing stations defined as defects.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein as the at least one operating parameter, a frequency for processing the Vessels (176) adapted accordingly, in particular increased.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing stations are randomly checked for functionality out.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is provided that during operation of the plant (2, 172, 174, 175) a sequence of processing steps, which are performed by respective processing stations, is repeated cyclically in processing cycles, wherein in one Schedule is given, retrievable stored and retrieved during operation, in which processing round which processing stations of the number of processing stations are to check for functionality.

An arrangement for controlling a plant (2, 172, 174, 175), the plant being configured to automatically handle vessels (176) adapted to receive bulk material and having a number of processing stations for the vessels (176) wherein the assembly (10, 250) is adapted to, wherein for each vessel a precise assignment to processing stations, which act on the vessel, is provided to check processing stations during operation of the system (250) for a functionality, and to define as nonfunctional identified processing stations for ongoing operation as defects and automatically excluded from further operation, the arrangement is designed to check the functioning of the processing stations for at least one while running Operation at a to be tested processing station to be filled vessel (176) after filling to determine a level height of the bulk material and to check whether the filling level is within or outside a tolerance range for the filling level, and to sort out the at least one vessel (176) if the fill level height is outside the fill level tolerance range and define the corresponding workstation as a fault and automatically exclude it from further operation of the equipment.

12. Arrangement according to claim 11, which is adapted to perform at least one step of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. Arrangement according to claim 11 or 12, which has at least one sensor (252, 254, 256) which is associated with at least one processing station and adapted to a state or operating parameters of the respective processing station and / or a state of one at the processing station To detect vessel to be processed (176).

14. Plant for automatic handling of vessels, comprising an assembly (10, 250) according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

15. Plant according to claim 14, which is adapted to handle vessels (176) which are formed as bottles, automatically.

16. Plant according to claim 14 or 15, which is adapted to control a respective state of the vessels (176).

17. Installation according to one of claims 14 to 16, which as at least one processing station a conveyor

(178, 178a, 178b) for transporting vessels (176).

18. Plant according to one of claims 14 to 17, which as a processing station at least one filling device

(182) for filling the vessels (176) with a bulk material.