EP2786315B1 - Procédé et système de contrôle d'emballage d'articles sur une chaîne de production/distribution - Google Patents

Procédé et système de contrôle d'emballage d'articles sur une chaîne de production/distribution Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2786315B1
EP2786315B1 EP12790902.6A EP12790902A EP2786315B1 EP 2786315 B1 EP2786315 B1 EP 2786315B1 EP 12790902 A EP12790902 A EP 12790902A EP 2786315 B1 EP2786315 B1 EP 2786315B1
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European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
batch
controller
items
identification data
packaging
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EP12790902.6A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2786315A2 (fr
Inventor
Yvan COLLOMBET
Daniel COTSFORD
Christian FÉFIN
Rodrigo LORCA
Luciano TORRES
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SICPA Holding SA
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SICPA Holding SA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/20—Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the technical field of control systems for automated production or distribution lines.
  • the invention particularly relates to the technical field of systems for tracking and tracing items on a production/distribution line.
  • Document US2008/121537 discloses a method and system for mass fabrication of customized items, and more particularly a method for packaging such items in a predetermined sequence.
  • Document US2006/219784 discloses a packaging inspection and verification system and method, which can be applied to a production line to inspect and verify products that are to be packaged prior to packaging and delivery.
  • Imaging devices are of common use for controlling production of items on automated production lines. For example, on bottling lines, strobe light (using a LED lighting unit controlled by a laser trigger device which detects the presence of an item, for example) illuminates bottles transported in single file on a conveyor and marked with a barcode (1D or 2D barcode, like SKU code or data matrix, for example), and digital cameras take digital images of the so illuminated bottles.
  • a strobe light source typically uses a LED lighting unit controlled by a laser trigger device, which detects the presence of an item.
  • Conventional image processing means automatically detect on a digital image of an item a region of interest containing a barcode pattern and then identify the item by decoding the detected barcode.
  • Such identification may be used, for example, for correctly labeling the above bottles according to their type (or content, etc.).
  • There are many known techniques relating to image processing which can be used for identifying an item marked with an identifier (including item identification data) from a digital image of said identifier.
  • the above imaging devices, or readers may be adapted to read identifiers from light reflected or emitted by said identifier within any optical wavelength range between the UV (ultraviolet) and the IR (infrared).
  • an RFID reader is adapted for reading identifiers like RFID tags disposed on items, these RFID tags including item identification data (possibly encrypted).
  • the identifier may be a magnetic marking, and the corresponding adapted reader is then of magnetic sensor type.
  • an adapted type of reader is used for reading said identifier and sending a corresponding reader signal to a controller having processing means capable of extracting identification data from said reader signal.
  • the collector device generally includes a sensor operable to detect that a batch of N items has been formed (for example, a mechanical counter, or an electronic counter in which a light beam between diodes is interrupted by a transported item). This sensor is operable to deliver a batch signal each time a batch of N items has been counted.
  • Operations on the line are generally controlled by a controller.
  • a reader connected to the controller typically reads the unique identifier on each one of the items in single file within said reading zone, and sends corresponding successive reader signals to the controller.
  • the controller has processing means programmed to extract each unique item identification data from the received reader signals. These processing means may in fact be split, for example, between the controller itself and the reader (i.e. some processing steps of the reader signal being then executed at the reader), or may even involve a remote connected processing unit.
  • the reader classically comprises a camera (or a plurality of cameras around the reading zone, and possibly including illumination source for illuminating the items to be imaged) set for reading a barcode on one item at a time as the items in single file are transported through the reading zone, by taking a digital image of a region of interest containing the barcode on the (illuminated) item.
  • a camera or a plurality of cameras around the reading zone, and possibly including illumination source for illuminating the items to be imaged
  • illumination source for illuminating the items to be imaged
  • An object of the invention is to provide a production/distribution control tool which is well adapted to high speed production/distribution lines carrying items maintained in a given disposition on the transport path, whilst being capable of processing read signals for every single item passing on the line, for precise identification of collected items and improved detection of damaged items.
  • processing means of a controller and thus processing steps carried out via said processing means, are defined in a broad sense which includes the possibility of being distributed between a plurality of units connected to the controller (as known in the art), although being designated as processing means of the controller.
  • the invention is particularly adapted to the case the items are transported by batches on the line, the items being maintained a given disposition within each batch.
  • the items may be transported already packed by batch within a packaging adapted for allowing a reader to read identifiers on the items.
  • said adapted packaging may be a transparent film wrapped around a batch of cigarette packs so that an optical reader can read the barcodes on the packs through the wrapping film.
  • the reading zone has an extension covering a group of items
  • the reader may be a camera capable of taking a digital image of a group of items in the reading zone.
  • Cameras capable of taking a global digital image of a group of objects, coupled to image processing means operable to detect objects among a plurality of objects (or patterns) within said digital image are now available.
  • processing means capable to detect each barcode (or item identifier), considered as an object or pattern, within a digital image of a group of barcodes are available.
  • these processing means so as to extract the corresponding identification data for each detected item identifier (for example, decoding each barcode detected in the digital image) according to an ordering which corresponds, by a one-to-one mapping, to the respective positions of the items within the above group of items, one arrives at a reader suitable for implementing the invention.
  • Said one-to-one mapping clearly always exists in case the items are transported grouped according to a given disposition, as the relative positions of the items within the group are not modified during transport along the transport path, particularly when the group of items crosses the reading zone.
  • a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling items on a production/distribution line wherein, the items are transported arranged according a given disposition along a transport path of the line through a reading zone toward a collector device operable to collect the items received from the reading zone to form a batch of a given number N of said items, each transported item is marked with a unique item identifier including unique item identification data of the item, the collector device includes a sensor operable to detect that a batch of N items has been formed and deliver a corresponding batch signal to a controller, said collector device is further operable to deliver a batch of N collected items to a packaging device connected to the controller, said packaging device is operable to pack the batch of N items delivered by the collector device into a batch packaging marked with a batch packaging identifier including batch packaging identification data to form a packed batch and deliver said packed batch, said method comprising the further steps of:
  • the invention is particularly well adapted to high speed production or distribution lines carrying items maintained in a given disposition on the transport path, whilst being capable of processing read signals for every single item passing on the line.
  • the first reader may in fact read only one identifier on one test item, at a test position in the reading zone, among a group of transported items, or only few of the identifers on few test items at given test positions.
  • the first reader may only have to read a reduced number of identifiers, and even as few as only one identifier over N, on the items within the reading zone, the corresponding equipment can be quite simple and compact.
  • all the identifiers of the items in the reading zone are read by the first reader, and all the corresponding unique item identification data are extracted by the controller and thus appear in the list, so that a full content of a packed batch is identified when the controller retrieves in the list item identification data of all the N items in the packed batch.
  • the invention is thus particularly suitable for identifying items which are transported on the line already packaged (in some adapted packaging) before being collected and further packed in a batch packaging.
  • the grouped items may be cigarette packs transported already wrapped in a transparent film and forming a carton of cigarette packs, the reading zone corresponding to the dimensions of a carton, each cigarette pack being marked with a barcode (unique item identification data), and each barcode on the packs within the carton being readable by a camera (first reader), possibly from a single digital image of the carton by using image processing operable to detect each barcode within the digital image, and decode each detected barcode according to an ordering corresponding to the disposition of the cigarette packs within the carton.
  • a packaging device may package a batch of a given number N of cigarette packs, corresponding to a given number K of cartons, into a case (batch packaging) marked with a barcode like a datamatrix (as an example of batch packaging identifier) including encoded data representing batch packaging identification data.
  • This barcode may further include identification data on the cigarette packs contained in the carton.
  • the level of security may even be increased by allowing the controller to set the test position of a test item within the reading zone (this setting may further programmed to vary over time).
  • the number of test items may also be set. In case only few test items are read in the reading zone, it is thus not possible for an observer to know in advance which items will be read. As a consequence, the possibility to detect unidentified item and/or a fraudulent interception is increased even if only few test items are identified.
  • all the identifiers of the items within the reading zone are read and corresponding item identification data appear in the list.
  • the controller may retrieve in the list item identification data corresponding to only few of the N collected items, possibly only one, which have been packed into a batch packaging upon delivering of the batch signal by the sensor.
  • a clock may deliver time data to the controller which may associate this time data with the item ID data as they are stored in the memory according said ordering to form the list, thus allowing a technician consulting the list stored in the memory to better diagnose a cause of a problem on the line.
  • the reading zone is adjacent to the sensor and entry of the collector device.
  • the controller in case the controller fails to extract a unique item identification data from a received first reader signal or a batch packaging identification data from a received second reader signal, it respectively delivers a first or a second identification error data as the unique item identification data or batch packaging identification data respectively corresponding to said received first or second reader signal.
  • the controller may further have the possibility to deliver an error message, so as to help a technician diagnosing a cause of an error, in case an extraction of identification data has failed. Consequently, the method may include a further step wherein, in case a first and a second identification error data relating to a delivered packed batch are delivered, the controller further delivers an error message.
  • the error message may further indicate an extraction error relating to a first reader signal and a second reader signal.
  • the controller in case the controller delivers a first identification error data and extracts a batch packaging identification data from a received second reader signal relating to a delivered packed batch, the controller further delivers an error message.
  • the error message may further indicate an extraction error relating to a first reader signal.
  • the controller only delivers a second identification error data relating to a delivered packed batch, the controller delivers an error message.
  • this error message may further indicate an extraction error relating to a second reader signal.
  • the controller may further store said error message in the memory.
  • the above method may comprise the further step of associating in the memory said error message with the corresponding batch packaging identification data of the delivered packed batch, by means of the controller.
  • This specific feature allows better tracing the history of the aggregation or packaging operations on the line.
  • time data delivered by a clock is further associated to said error message and said corresponding extracted batch packaging identification data of the batch packaging of the delivered packed batch.
  • the above specific feature is also particularly useful for identifying batches containing unknown items (not identified by the first reader) in case specific action is required: such as ejection of a batch or special labeling.
  • any error message may further be uploaded and accessible through reports.
  • An error message delivered by the controller may further be sent to a display (possibly associated with time data delivered by the above mentioned clock), in order to alert an operator watching operations on the line, for example, or may be sent, as well as any part of the data stored in the memory, to a remote device via appropriate transmission means.
  • a display possibly associated with time data delivered by the above mentioned clock
  • the above possibility of detecting and signaling errors is advantageous, as it is easy to determine from the list which batch is in fact concerned by an error message without having to stop the line or affect the sequential storage of item identification data relating to the next items arriving in the reading zone.
  • the invention also relates to a system for controlling items on a production/distribution line which is operable to implement any of the above mentioned aspects and/or variants of the method for controlling items on a production/distribution line according to the invention, and also corresponding use of said system, as specified above.
  • a second aspect of the invention relates to a system for controlling items on a production/distribution line, comprising transport means operable to transport items arranged according a given disposition along a transport path of the line through a reading zone toward a collector device operable to collect the items received from the reading zone to form a batch of a given number N of said items, each transported item being marked with a unique item identifier including unique item identification data of the item, the collector device including a sensor operable to detect that a batch of N items has been formed and deliver a corresponding batch signal to a controller, said collector device being further operable to deliver a batch of N collected items to a packaging device connected to the controller, said packaging device being operable to pack the batch of N items delivered by the collector device into a batch packaging marked with a batch packaging identifier including batch packaging identification data to form a packed batch and deliver said packed batch, wherein:
  • the level of security may even be increased by allowing the controller to set the test position of a test item to be identified via the first reader within the reading zone.
  • the number of test items may also be set.
  • a clock may deliver time data to the controller which may associate this time data with the item ID data as they are stored in the memory.
  • the controller in case the controller fails to extract a unique item identification data from a received first reader signal or a batch packaging identification data from a received second reader signal, it is operable to respectively deliver a first or a second identification error data as the unique item identification data or batch packaging identification data respectively corresponding to said received first or second reader signal.
  • the controller in case the controller delivers a first and a second identification error data relating to a delivered packed batch, the controller may be operable to deliver an error message indicating an extraction error relating to a first reader signal and a second reader signal. Also, in case the controller delivers a first identification error data and extracts a batch packaging identification data from a received second reader signal relating to a delivered packed batch, the controller may be operable to deliver an error message indicating an extraction error relating to a first reader signal. Likewise, in case the controller only delivers a second identification error data relating to a delivered packed batch, the controller may further be operable to deliver an error message indicating an extraction error relating to a second reader signal.
  • the controller may further be operable to store said error message in the memory.
  • an error message delivered by the controller may also be sent to a display (possibly associated with time data delivered, by the above mentioned clock), in order to alert an operator watching operations on the line.
  • This error message, as well as any part of the data stored in the memory may further be sent to a remote device via appropriate transmission means.
  • the controller may further be operable to associate in the memory said delivered error message with the corresponding batch packaging identification data of the delivered packed batch.
  • a system for controlling packaging operations on items on a production/distribution line (2) comprises a conveyor (3) for transporting items (1, 2,..., N,..), which here are cigarette packs grouped into cartons (1, 2,..., K, K+1, K+2,...), said cartons being arranged in single file along the transport path toward a reading zone (4) or the line.
  • Each item (5) (cigarette pack) is marked with a unique item identifier (6), here a barcode, which includes unique item identification data of the item.
  • Each carton maintains the cigarette packs in a given disposition: here, a carton corresponds to 5 cigarette packs (this reduced number is just for clarity of the illustrating drawings) wrapped into a transparent plastic film.
  • the reading zone (4) has a length substantially corresponding to that of a carton (along the direction of motion), so that only the cigarette packs within one carton are read.
  • a controller (10) controls the operations on the line.
  • a pusher (7) i.e. collector device
  • the pusher (7) delivers said formed batch of items (8) to a packaging device (not represented), also connected to the controller, which packs the received batch of N items (8) into a batch packaging (12) shown on Fig.2 , to obtain a packed batch of items (14) (i.e. a filled case) shown on Fig.3 .
  • the pusher (7) device includes a sensor (9) connected to the controller (10) for detecting that a batch of N items has been formed.
  • This sensor (9) may be a laser trigger equipped with a counter (which counts the number of times the laser beam has been cut off by a carton), for example.
  • a counter which counts the number of times the laser beam has been cut off by a carton
  • the system further comprises a first camera (11) (i.e. first reader) mounted on the line and connected to the controller (10).
  • the first camera (11) is equipped with an illumination source (not shown) for sequentially illuminating each carton crossing the reading zone (i.e.
  • the first camera (11) takes a digital image of the group of all the illuminated identifiers (6) within the carton.
  • This first camera (11) delivers corresponding first reader signal, corresponding to said digital image of the group of item identifiers, to image processing means in the camera.
  • Said image processing means of the first camera then performs image processing of said digital image, detects each barcode pattern present and extracts corresponding unique item identification data, i.e.
  • the first camera (11) sends the extracted unique item identification data to the controller (10) according to said ordering.
  • the first camera may be triggered with sensor means (like a conventional laser trigger, for example) which detect a passage of a carton within the reading zone and thus trigger illumination of the passing carton and activate the first camera to take an image of the carton.
  • the controller (10) which has processing means (CPU unit) and a memory, is operable to sequentially store in the memory each unique item identification data received from the first camera according to said ordering, so as to form a list (15) of unique item identification data (16) shown in Fig.4 (each successive line (16) corresponding to each item identification data sequentially stored).
  • a rank (17) of corresponding items within a collected batch (8) i.e. ranks 1, ..., N
  • of following items in the reading zone i.e. ranks N+1, N+2, .
  • the reading zone (4) is disposed just before the entrance of the pusher (7), at the level, but just before sensor (9), as shown on Fig.1 . This placing makes the system particularly robust to errors in case there is a fault or jam in the transport or collection operations.
  • the pusher (7) pushes the batch (8) of N items just formed in a packaging device (not shown) which packs said batch (8) into a batch packaging (12), here a case, already marked with a batch barcode (13) (i.e. batch identifier) and delivers a corresponding packed batch (14) (i.e. a case filled with K cartons of cigarette packs).
  • a second camera not shown, i.e. second reader, connected to the controller (10) and triggered by such delivering of the packed batch (14), reads the batch barcode (13) on the packed batch (14) and sends a corresponding second reader signal to the controller (10).
  • the controller (10) then extracts the batch identification data (i.e.
  • the controller (10) searches in the list (15) which unique item identification data (i.e. which unique item identification data already extracted from a first reader signal previously sent to the controller) correspond to items in the case just delivered (i.e. the items in the K cartons already collected in the pusher as the batch signal is just delivered). For example, the search may start from the last line formed in the list at the instant the batch signal is delivered (i.e. line N on Fig.4 ), and item identification data on the preceding lines are then collected up to the line corresponding to a Nth item in the case (i.e.
  • time data from a clock connected to the controller is registered together with extracted unique item identification data and batch signal delivery time on the list, and thus the controller can easily access the line in the list corresponding to the time at which the batch signal is delivered in order to retrieve the item identification data of the N just collected items.
  • the controller stores in the memory the above extracted batch identification data associated to the retrieved unique item ID data corresponding to the packed batch. From this association of batch content data (item identification data) and package data (packed batch identification data), reliable track and trace operations are made possible.
  • the memory may be distributed (like the processing means): at least part of the memory, for example for storing associated batch content data and package data may be in a remote database connected to the controller.
  • the readers may have their own storage capacities.
  • the invention also includes a computer program product operable to make a computer connected to a system for controlling items on a production/distribution line, as described above, implement the steps of the method according to the invention (as described above), when running on said computer.
  • the method and system for identifying items on a production line may be used with a high level of confidence for item identification in industry for many applications such as, for example, determining a production volume on said production line (for tax value estimation, etc%), line production control, line production inspection (for fraud detection, etc).

Claims (14)

  1. Procédé de contrôle d'articles sur une ligne de production et répartition (2), les articles étant transportés en étant agencés et maintenus conformément à une disposition donnée le long d'une voie de transport de la ligne au travers d'une zone de lecture (4) vers un dispositif formant collecteur (7) pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour recueillir les articles reçus en provenance de la zone de lecture afin de former un lot (8) constitué d'un nombre N donné desdits articles, chaque article transporté (5) étant marqué avec un identificateur unique d'article (6) incluant une donnée unique d'identification de l'article, le dispositif formant collecteur incluant un capteur (9) pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour détecter qu'un lot de N articles a été formé et pour délivrer un signal correspondant de lot à un contrôleur (10), ledit dispositif formant collecteur pouvant en outre être mis en oeuvre pour livrer un lot de N articles collectés à un dispositif de conditionnement pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour conditionner le lot de N articles, livrés par le dispositif formant collecteur, dans un emballage de lot (12) marqué avec un identificateur d'emballage de lot (13) incluant des données d'identification d'emballage de lot dans le but de former un lot conditionné (14) et livrer ledit lot conditionné, caractérisé en ce que le procédé comprend les étapes suivantes :
    la lecture d'au moins un identificateur sur au moins l'un des articles à au moins une position donnée correspondante à l'intérieur de la zone de lecture, au moyen d'un premier lecteur (11), le premier lecteur étant connecté au contrôleur et envoyant un premier signal de lecteur correspondant au contrôleur,
    l'extraction de chaque donnée unique d'identification d'article du premier signal de lecteur reçu en fonction d'un ordonnancement correspondant à ladite disposition donnée des articles et à ladite position donnée, au moyen du contrôleur,
    le stockage séquentiel, dans une mémoire connectée au contrôleur, afin de former une liste (15) de données uniques d'identification d'articles, chaque donnée unique d'identification d'article étant extraite dudit premier signal de lecteur en fonction dudit ordonnancement et de ladite position, au moyen du contrôleur,
    la livraison au dispositif de conditionnement du lot de N articles recueillis par le collecteur, lors de la délivrance d'un signal de lot par le capteur, le conditionnement dudit lot délivré dans un lot conditionné correspondant de conditionnement et de livraison de lot, et la lecture de l'identificateur de conditionnement de lot sur l'emballage du lot conditionné délivré par le dispositif de conditionnement au moyen d'un second lecteur connecté au contrôleur, le second lecteur envoyant un second signal de lecteur correspondant au contrôleur,
    l'extraction d'une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot à partir du second signal de lecteur reçu, et la récupération dans la liste, en fonction dudit ordonnancement et de ladite position, d'une donnée unique d'identification d'article correspondant à au moins l'un des N articles dans le lot conditionné délivré par le dispositif de conditionnement, au moyen du contrôleur,
    le stockage dans la mémoire de ladite donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot extraite associée à ladite donnée unique récupérée d'identification d'article, au moyen du contrôleur, et
    l'exécution, sur la base de ladite association, d'une opération de suivi et localisation comprenant le contrôle de ce que les positions relatives des articles (5) ont été modifiées pendant le transport le long de la voie de transport.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur échoue dans l'extraction d'une donnée unique d'identification d'article à partir d'un premier signal de lecteur reçu ou d'une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot provenant d'un second signal de lecteur reçu, il délivre respectivement une première ou une seconde donnée unique d'identification d'article ou une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot correspondant respectivement aux dits premier ou second signaux de lecteurs reçus.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur délivre une première et une seconde donnée d'erreur d'identification se rapportant à un lot conditionné livré, le contrôleur délivre un message d'erreur indiquant une erreur d'extraction se rapportant à un premier signal de lecteur et à un second signal de lecteur.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur délivre une première donnée d'erreur d'identification et extrait une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot à partir d'un second signal de lecteur reçu se rapportant à un lot conditionné livré, le contrôleur délivre un message d'erreur indiquant une erreur d'extraction se rapportant à un premier signal de lecteur.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur ne délivre qu'une seconde donnée d'erreur d'identification se rapportant à un lot conditionné livré, le contrôleur délivre un message d'erreur indiquant une erreur d'extraction se rapportant à un second signal de lecteur.
  6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 5, comprenant une autre étape consistant à stocker, dans le cas où un message d'erreur est délivré par le contrôleur, ledit message d'erreur dans la mémoire, au moyen du contrôleur.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, comprenant l'étape supplémentaire consistant à associer dans la mémoire, dans le cas où un message d'erreur est délivré par le contrôleur, ledit message d'erreur avec la donnée correspondante d'identification de conditionnement de lot pour le lot conditionné livré, au moyen du contrôleur.
  8. Système de contrôle d'articles sur une ligne de production et de répartition (2), comprenant un moyen de transport (3) pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour transporter des articles agencés et maintenus conformément à une disposition donnée le long d'une voie de transport de la ligne au travers d'une zone de lecture (4) vers un dispositif formant collecteur (7) pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour recueillir les articles reçus en provenance de la zone de lecture afin de former un lot (8) constitué d'un nombre N donné desdits articles, chaque article transporté (5) étant marqué avec un identificateur unique d'article (6) incluant une donnée unique d'identification de l'article, le dispositif formant collecteur incluant un capteur (9) pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour détecter qu'un lot de N articles a été formé et pour délivrer un signal correspondant de lot à un contrôleur (10), ledit dispositif formant collecteur pouvant en outre être mis en oeuvre pour livrer un lot de N articles collectés à un dispositif de conditionnement connecté au contrôleur, ledit dispositif de conditionnement pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour conditionner le lot de N articles, livrés par le dispositif formant collecteur, dans un emballage de lot (12) marqué avec un identificateur d'emballage de lot (13) incluant des données d'identification d'emballage de lot dans le but de former un lot conditionné (14) et livrer ledit lot conditionné, caractérisé en ce que :
    un premier lecteur (11) connecté au contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour lire au moins un identificateur sur au moins l'un des articles à au moins une position donnée correspondante à l'intérieur de la zone de lecture, le premier lecteur pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour envoyer un premier signal de lecteur correspondant au contrôleur,
    le contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour extraire chaque donnée unique d'identification d'article d'un premier signal de lecteur reçu en fonction d'un ordonnancement correspondant à ladite disposition donnée des articles et à ladite position donnée,
    le contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour effectuer séquentiellement une mémorisation, dans une mémoire connectée au contrôleur, afin de former une liste (15) de données uniques d'identification d'articles, chaque donnée unique d'identification d'article étant extraite dudit premier signal de lecteur en fonction dudit ordonnancement et de ladite position,
    le collecteur peut être mis en oeuvre pour livrer au dispositif de conditionnement le lot (8) de N articles recueillis, le dispositif de conditionnement pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour conditionner le lot reçu de N articles dans un lot de conditionnement (12) et pour livrer un lot conditionné correspondant (14), et un second lecteur connecté au contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour lire l'identificateur de conditionnement de lot (13) sur le conditionnement du lot conditionné livré par le dispositif de conditionnement, le second lecteur pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour envoyer un second signal de lecteur correspondant au contrôleur,
    le contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour extraire une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot à partir d'un second signal de lecteur reçu, et pour récupérer dans la liste, en fonction dudit ordonnancement et de ladite position, une donnée unique d'identification d'article correspondant à au moins l'un des N articles formant le lot d'articles collectés dans le lot conditionné livré par le dispositif de conditionnement,
    le contrôleur peut en outre être mis en oeuvre pour stocker dans la mémoire une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot extraite associée à la donnée unique récupérée d'identification d'article correspondante, et
    pour effectuer, sur la base de ladite association, une opération de suivi et localisation comprenant le contrôle de ce que les positions relatives des articles (5) ont été modifiées pendant le transport le long de la voie de transport.
  9. Système selon la revendication 8, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur échoue dans l'extraction d'une donnée unique d'identification d'article à partir d'un premier signal de lecteur reçu ou d'une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot provenant d'un second signal de lecteur reçu, il peut être mis en oeuvre pour délivrer respectivement une première ou une seconde donnée d'erreur en tant que donnée unique d'identification d'article ou donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot correspondant respectivement aux dits premier ou second signaux de lecteurs reçus.
  10. Système selon la revendication 9, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur délivre une première et une seconde donnée d'erreur d'identification se rapportant à un lot conditionné livré, le contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour délivrer un message d'erreur indiquant une erreur d'extraction se rapportant à un premier signal de lecteur et à un second signal de lecteur.
  11. Système selon la revendication 9 ou la revendication 10, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur délivre une première donnée d'erreur d'identification et extrait une donnée d'identification de conditionnement de lot à partir d'un second signal de lecteur reçu se rapportant à un lot conditionné livré, le contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour délivrer un message d'erreur indiquant une erreur d'extraction se rapportant à un premier signal de lecteur.
  12. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 11, dans lequel, dans le cas où le contrôleur ne délivre qu'une seconde donnée d'erreur d'identification se rapportant à un lot conditionné livré, le contrôleur peut être mis en oeuvre pour délivrer un message d'erreur indiquant une erreur d'extraction se rapportant à un second signal de lecteur.
  13. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 12, dans lequel, dans le cas où un message d'erreur est délivré par le contrôleur, celui-ci peut en outre être mis en oeuvre pour stocker ledit message d'erreur dans la mémoire.
  14. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel, dans le cas où un message d'erreur est délivré par le contrôleur, le contrôleur peut en outre être mis en oeuvre pour associer dans la mémoire ledit message d'erreur délivré et la donnée correspondante d'identification de conditionnement de lot pour le lot conditionné livré.
EP12790902.6A 2011-11-28 2012-11-23 Procédé et système de contrôle d'emballage d'articles sur une chaîne de production/distribution Active EP2786315B1 (fr)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161564119P 2011-11-28 2011-11-28
EP11009413 2011-11-28
PCT/EP2012/073478 WO2013079408A2 (fr) 2011-11-28 2012-11-23 Procédé et système de commande de l'emballage d'articles sur une ligne de production/distribution
EP12790902.6A EP2786315B1 (fr) 2011-11-28 2012-11-23 Procédé et système de contrôle d'emballage d'articles sur une chaîne de production/distribution

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CA (1) CA2856342A1 (fr)
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TW201336740A (zh) 2011-11-28 2013-09-16 Sicpa Holding Sa 用於控制生產／分配線上物品之方法及系統
CN105857764B (zh) * 2016-04-13 2018-05-01 山东泰安烟草有限公司 用于卷烟的分拣装箱方法
JP6476228B2 (ja) 2017-04-14 2019-02-27 オムロン株式会社 産業用制御装置、制御方法、プログラム、包装機、および包装機用制御装置
CN113095845A (zh) * 2019-12-19 2021-07-09 大江生医股份有限公司 容器、包装、生产系统及分销系统

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JPWO2005115890A1 (ja) * 2004-05-31 2008-03-27 デンセイ・ラムダ株式会社 製品管理システム
US7185812B2 (en) * 2005-03-31 2007-03-06 Inventec Corporation Packaging inspection and verification system and method
US7748199B2 (en) * 2006-11-28 2010-07-06 Align Technology, Inc. System and method for packaging of mass-fabricated custom items
WO2010037175A1 (fr) * 2008-10-01 2010-04-08 Global Tracking Solutions Pty Ltd Système de suivi de marchandises dangereuses
US8565914B2 (en) * 2010-01-18 2013-10-22 Vistaprint Technologies Limited Method and system for automatically tracking packages in automated packaging system

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AU2012344084A1 (en) 2014-06-05
CO6990678A2 (es) 2014-07-10
MX345070B (es) 2017-01-16
EP2786315A2 (fr) 2014-10-08
BR112014012665A2 (pt) 2017-06-13
UY34463A (es) 2013-06-28
MA35746B1 (fr) 2014-12-01
TW201335046A (zh) 2013-09-01
BR112014012665A8 (pt) 2017-06-20
WO2013079408A3 (fr) 2013-09-19
AR088874A1 (es) 2014-07-16
BR112014012665B1 (pt) 2021-07-06
AU2012344084A8 (en) 2014-06-12
CA2856342A1 (fr) 2013-06-06
MX2014006353A (es) 2014-06-23
MY167498A (en) 2018-08-30
WO2013079408A2 (fr) 2013-06-06

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