JP2022145385A - Packaging-related system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a packaging-related system capable of remotely monitoring and managing an operation state and a production state of a packaging-related device, and also remotely providing data needed to operate to the packaging-related device.SOLUTION: There is provided a packaging-related system, wherein a first computer arranged at a packaging-related device 10 controls the packaging-related device, and also connects with a third computer arranged remotely through a second computer. The second computer is mounted with an OPC UA function, and the third computer monitors and assists in the operation of the first computer through the second computer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to a remote diagnosis/support method for packaging-related equipment such as a pillow packaging machine, a wrapping packaging machine, an overwrapping packaging machine, and a boxing machine.

Packaging-related equipment includes a pillow packaging machine that fills a cylindrical packaging material with products at intervals, seals, cuts, etc. There are a wrapping machine that wraps the product so that it wraps around the product, a top-wrapping machine that wraps the product so that it is covered with the packaging material, and a boxing machine that packs the product into a box made of cardboard or the like. These packaging-related devices are incorporated into production lines together with weighing devices and the like. Each packaging-related device is controlled by a sequence program or the like. During the operation of these packaging-related devices, workers monitor the operating status of each device.

In recent years, in packaging-related equipment, in order to reduce the burden on workers, IoT (Internet of Things) is being used to promote smart factoryization of production plants, and one host computer can remotely operate each packaging-related equipment. , monitoring, repair, etc. However, a plurality of devices with different operations are arranged on a production line in which packaging-related devices are incorporated. had to unify.
In addition, since each packaging-related equipment is generally expensive, there has been a demand to promote a smart factory using existing packaging-related equipment.

Therefore, when a packaging-related device is installed at a remote location for production, various devices and systems have been proposed for monitoring and managing the operation status and production status of the packaging-related device.
Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-206320) discloses a method of diagnosing a filling and packaging machine that can perform a remote diagnosis when a failure occurs in the filling and packaging machine and perform possible failure recovery. disclosed. In this method of diagnosing a filling and packaging machine, the operating state of the filling and packaging machine is monitored by the first computer, and if the first computer detects an abnormality in the sequence program of the filling and packaging machine, the The first computer and the second computer are connected, the connected second computer diagnoses the filling and packaging machine, and the sequence program is rewritten via the network.
However, in the filling and packaging machine of the embodiment described in Patent Document 1, the panel computer mounted on the filling and packaging machine and the host computer disposed at a remote location are connected via a computer equipped with an OPC UA function. There is no mention of communication.

In Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-164221), the present applicant describes a packaging-related device having a dedicated operation unit, and for a plurality of packaging-related devices operating simultaneously at the same production site , even if the plurality of devices do not constitute the same production line, when an abnormality occurs in a certain device and an alarm is issued, it is possible to immediately grasp it and take countermeasures. An alarm indication system for packaging related equipment is disclosed.
However, Patent Literature 2 does not describe remotely monitoring the operation status and production status and remotely exchanging data necessary for operation.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-206320 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-164221

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a packaging-related device capable of remotely monitoring and managing the operation status and production status of a packaging-related device and remotely providing the data necessary for the operation of the packaging-related device. It is to provide a system.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to implement IoT in packaging-related equipment already installed in a production factory when remotely monitoring and managing the operation status and production status of packaging-related equipment. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging-related apparatus capable of promoting smart factoryization of a production factory at low cost without imposing a burden on workers.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a packaging-related device, a first computer that controls the packaging-related device, and a packaging-related device that is connected to the first computer and externally receives information on the packaging-related device. and a third computer connected to the second computer for monitoring the condition of the packaging machine and supporting the operation thereof, wherein the third In the packaging-related system, the computer supports the operation of the packaging-related device by connecting with the first computer through the second computer.

In the packaging-related system described in claim 1, the first computer transmits the operation status of the packaging-related device to the third computer via the second computer connected via a LAN or the Internet. Send. The third computer assists the operation of packaging-related equipment based on the obtained information.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the second computer is a PLC equipped with an OPC UA function and relays the first computer and the third computer. packaging-related system.

In the packaging-related system according to claim 2, the second computer is a PLC equipped with an OPC UA function, the first computer arranged in the factory and the third computer remotely arranged. provide interconnectivity for communications between the computers of

According to the present invention, when remotely monitoring and managing the operation status and production status of a packaging-related device, by converting the packaging-related device already installed in the production factory to IoT, it does not place a burden on the worker. In addition, it is possible to promote the smart factory of the production factory at low cost.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example configuration of a packaging-related apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the film conveying section of the packaging-related apparatus shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the system configuration according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a packaging-related system related to the process of requesting data on operating conditions according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a packaging-related system related to the process of providing data on operating conditions according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for operation monitoring according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example processing procedure of production management according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a printing section of a film transport section according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a third flow chart showing a processing procedure according to another embodiment shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example configuration of a packaging-related apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The packaging-related apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a vertical pillow packaging machine, in which the band-shaped packaging material Fw fed out from the original fabric roll unit 11 is guided by several rotatable guide rolls 12 to form a cylinder (former). ) 13, and formed into a tubular shape in a tube making device 13, and then formed into a tubular packaging material Ft by vertically sealing the overlapped edges with a vertical sealing device 14. As shown in FIG. A product A, which is a package, is introduced and filled into the cylindrical packaging material Ft through the filling tube. The cylindrical packaging material Ft containing the product A is horizontally sealed by the horizontal sealing device 15, and the cylindrical packaging material Ft is aligned with the horizontal sealing position by the cutter device 16 incorporated in the horizontal sealing device 15, for example. is cut, a bag package S filled with the product A is manufactured. In the storage section 17, the belt-shaped packaging material Fw fed out from the raw fabric roll section 11 absorbs fluctuations in tension adjustment and feed amount. A printing device 18 is provided downstream of the reservoir 17, and a sensor group 19 for reading printed information is provided further downstream. Associated with the filling tube, a belt-type paper feeding device 20 is provided as a packaging material feeding device that feeds the tubular packaging material Ft while sandwiching it on its outer peripheral surface. Each unit of packaging-related apparatus 10 is controlled by first computer 51 .

A portion of the packaging-related device 10 of FIG. 1 shown in FIG. Along with the start of operation of the packaging-related device 10, the strip-shaped packaging material Fw is supplied to the packaging-related device 10, and the barcode B1 is printed on the strip-shaped packaging material Fw by the printer . A sensor group 19 (here, a barcode reader 29) provided from the downstream area a1 to a2 of the printing device 18 reads the barcode B1 printed on the strip packaging material Fw, and is provided in the box of the packaging related device 10. Then, it transmits to the first computer 51 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a packaging-related system to which the present invention is applied. The first computer 51 is installed in the box of the packaging-related device 10 and is a control unit of the packaging-related device 10 that controls the sensor group 19 and the actuator 21 . The first computer 51 is connected via a second computer 52 to a remotely located third computer 53 so that the connection between the first computer 51 and the second computer 52 and the second computer 52 and the third computer 53 are connected via a LAN or the Internet. The second computer 52 is a PLC with OPC UA functionality and the remotely located third computer 53 is the host computer. The second computer 52 acts as an intermediary between the first computer 51 and the third computer 53 and makes the information exchanged between the first computer 51 and the third computer 53 interoperable.
In the above exchange, the first computer 51 communicates the operation parameters of the packaging-related equipment (packaging capacity, bag length, operation timing, etc.), the number of the selected item, the item name, the status indicating the operation state (stopped, standby, etc.). While driving, during alarm occurrence (including the alarm number and name of the alarm being issued), the sensor group 19, monitoring information of various devices, etc. are disclosed to the third computer 53 via the second computer 52. .

FIG. 4 shows the packaging-related system performed in the process in which the third computer 53 provides the above-described operating conditions of the packaging-related device 10 to the first computer 51, which is performed when the packaging-related device 10 starts operating. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the packaging-related system performed in the process in which the first computer 51 provides information on the operating status of the packaging-related device 10 to the third computer 53. As shown in FIG. The third computer 53 provides the first computer 51 via the second computer 52 with information on the bar code verification data printed on the used packaging material when the packaging-related apparatus 10 starts operating. The first computer 51 instructs the sensor group 19 (here, the barcode reader 29) to collect data at a predetermined timing while the packaging-related apparatus 10 is running, and the sensor group 19 (here, the barcode reader 29) ) reads the barcode B<b>1 printed on the band-shaped packaging material Fw and transmits the obtained information to the first computer 51 . The first computer 51 collates whether the driving situation data provided by the sensor group 19 and the data provided by the third computer 53 match.

The operation of the packaging-related system performed in the operation monitoring process S1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 shows the contents of processing related to remote operation monitoring executed by the first computer 51 and the third computer 53. As shown in FIG.

When the packaging-related apparatus 10 starts operating, the third computer 53 requests the first computer 51 via the second computer 52 for information on the operating status (step S10). Upon receiving the request, the first computer 51 determines whether or not the inspection timing is appropriate from the sensor group 19 and the actuator 21 (step S11). Next, the third computer 53 transmits facility data such as bar code verification data that has been input in advance to the first computer 51 via the second computer 52, and at the same time, the first computer 51 inputs measurement results from the sensor group 19 and contact information from the actuator 21, and collects data on the operating conditions of these packaging-related devices 10 (step S12). The first computer 51 determines whether or not the collected data is within the allowable range of the verification data received from the third computer 53 (step S13). Through this work, it is determined whether or not the product set in the packaging-related apparatus 10 in operation matches the packaging material.

In step 13, if the data obtained from the barcode B1 read by the barcode reader 29 is not within the allowable range of the collation data previously input to the third computer 53, the first computer 51 command to perform warning processing. The first computer 51 requests, via the second computer 52, the third computer 53 to update the driving state data or provide some assistance. The first computer 51 and the third computer 53 repeat the operations performed in the operation monitoring process S1 while the packaging-related apparatus 10 is in operation.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the packaging-related system performed in the production control process S2. FIG. 7 shows the processing contents related to totalization of the film roll exchange times executed by the computer 51 in FIG. 1 and the computer 53 in FIG. Step 20 in FIG. 7 corresponds to steps S10 to S13 in FIG. 6, and step S21 corresponds to step S14.

When the content of the warning process is the end of the film roll Fr placed on the original roll unit 11 (step S22), the first computer 51 acquires the time when the warning process was performed (step S23). When the on-site worker who received the warning replaces the film roll Fr with a new one and the packaging-related device 10 resumes operation, the first computer 51 acquires the operation restart time of the packaging-related device 10 (step S25). ). The first computer 51 transmits the data obtained in steps S23 and S25 to the third computer 53 via the second computer 52, and the third computer 53, based on the received data, Calculate and record the time taken to change the film.

In this way, even if the third computer 53 serving as the host computer is arranged remotely from the packaging-related apparatus 10, the packaging-related apparatus 10 can be arranged in the vicinity of the packaging-related apparatus 10 via the second computer 52. It can also communicate with the first computer 51 to monitor the operation status of the packaging-related apparatus 10 and perform production control. Further, since the second computer 52 is a PLC equipped with an OPC UA function, the communication standards of the first computer 51 and the third computer 53 installed in the existing packaging-related apparatus 10 may differ. However, the information exchanged between them can be interoperable.
In addition, by using the existing packaging-related device 10, it is possible to eliminate the need to replace the device, reduce the burden on the worker, and realize the production factory as a smart factory at low cost.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only and not limiting. Various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the sensor unit 19 is the barcode reader 29, but it is not limited to this. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, as the sensor section 19, a print inspection device 39 that reads printed characters B2 is employed. The print inspection device 39 reads the characters B<b>2 printed on the band-shaped packaging material Fw and transmits the obtained information to the first computer 51 . The data obtained from the print B2 includes, but is not limited to, the expiration date of the product to be packaged A, the manufacturing code, and the like.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the operation of the packaging-related system performed in the operation monitoring process S1' of the packaging-related device 10 of another embodiment shown in FIG. The first computer 51 collects data and transmits the data to the third computer 53 via the second computer 52 even if the information obtained by the sensor section 19 is characters (printing section B2).

In the above embodiment, the area where the sensor group 19 is arranged is from a1 to a2, but if it is on the downstream side of the printing device 18, it may be from a2 to a3 or from a3 to a4, for example.

In the above embodiment, the packaging-related device 10 is a vertical pillow packaging machine, but the packaging-related device 10 may be a horizontal pillow packaging machine, an overwrap packaging machine, or other packaging-related equipment.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the remotely arranged third computer 53 supervises the operation and production control of the packaging-related apparatus 10, but is not limited to this. Predictive maintenance may be performed by predicting the occurrence of an operational abnormality or failure in the related device 10 from the obtained data. Further, the third computer 53 may rewrite the information input to the first computer 51 via the second computer 52 when the malfunction of the packaging-related apparatus 10 is detected.

In the present invention, when remotely monitoring and managing the operation status and production status of packaging-related equipment, by converting the packaging-related equipment already installed in the production factory into IoT, it does not burden the workers, and , it is possible to promote the smart factory of the production factory at low cost.

10 packaging-related device 11 original roll unit 12 guide roll 13 cylindrical container (former)
14 Vertical sealing device 15 Horizontal sealing device 16 Cutter device 17 Storage part 18 Printing device 19 Sensor group 29 Bar code reader 39 Print inspection device Fr Film roll Fw Strip packaging material Ft Cylindrical packaging material A Product S Bag package B1 Barcode printing Part B2 printing part

Claims (2)

a packaging-related device; a first computer that controls the packaging-related device; a second computer that is connected to the first computer and allows information on the packaging-related device to be accessed from the outside; and a third computer connected to the packaging machine for monitoring the state of the packaging machine and supporting operation, wherein the third computer is connected to the first computer via the second computer A packaging-related system characterized by supporting the operation of the packaging-related device by connecting with. 2. The packaging-related system according to claim 1, wherein said second computer is a PLC equipped with an OPC UA function and relays said first computer and said third computer. Packaging related system.

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