Processing Unit, Method for Operating a Processing Unit and Use of a Processing Unit

Abstract

A processing facility having at least one processing station and at least one covering at least partly surrounding the processing station. The covering has at least one viewing window. Improved error correction is then made possible if a display unit displays at least one item of information about the processing station on the viewing window.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A processing facility comprising: at least one processing station; and at least one covering at least partly surrounding the processing station, wherein the covering has at least one viewing window, wherein a display unit displays at least one item of information about the processing station on the viewing window, wherein the type of information is determined dependent on a position of the operator relative to the viewing window.

18. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein the viewing window forms a mechanical protection of the processing station, and/or in that the viewing window is formed as a pane, and/or in that the viewing window is formed as a semi-transparent pane, and/or in that the viewing window is arranged in a door of the covering, and/or in that the covering is formed as part of a housing of the processing station, and/or in that the covering is openable.

19. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein the viewing window is formed as a display controlled by the display unit, or in that the viewing window is formed as a projection screen for the display unit.

20. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein the at least one item of information about the processing station is dependent on at least one state of the processing station, and/or in that at least one state of the processing station is detected by at least one sensor, and/or in that the detected state is stored as actual-state data in a central server, and/or in that the information about the processing station is created from at least parts of the actual-state data, and/or in that the information about the processing station is created dependent on a target-actual comparison between the actual-state data and the target-state data.

21. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein a display position of the information in the viewing window is determined dependent on the position of a sensor in the processing station.

22. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein a detection unit detects a spatial position of an operator of the processing station and/or in that the display position of the information in the viewing window is determined dependent on the detected position of the operator.

23. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein at least two processing stations are provided which are arranged spatially separate from one another, and in that at least one viewing window is assigned to the processing stations respectively.

24. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein sensors are assigned to processing facilities respectively, and in that dependent on the assignment of the sensor, from which the information originates, to one of the processing stations that viewing window is determined in which the information is displayed.

25. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein the displayed information is a warning indication or an error indication.

26. The processing facility of claim 17, wherein a preferably wireless communication device is provided, and in that the information about the processing station can be transmitted to a mobile information unit by means of the communication device, and/or in that an operator instruction can be received by the mobile information unit and can be displayed on the viewing window by means of the display unit.

27. A method for operating a processing facility of claim 17, wherein information about the processing station is displayed on the viewing window, wherein the type of information is determined dependent on a position of the operator relative to the viewing window.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a direction arrow is displayed in a viewing window which is next to a viewing window in which a warning indication or an error indication is displayed, this direction arrow pointing in the direction of the viewing window in which the warning indication or the error indication is displayed, or a message is displayed that a warning indication or an error indication is displayed in another viewing window.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein status information is displayed in peripheral areas in a viewing window, and/or in that the warning indication or the error indication is displayed in a central area in a viewing window.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein a display size and/or a display position and/or a type of display of information in the viewing window is determined dependent on an amount of a deviation of an actual-state variable from a target-state variable.

31. A method of operating a packaging facility or a filling facility comprising using a processing facility according to claim 17.

32. The processing facility of claim 22, wherein the display position is determined in a straight line between the position of the operator and the position of the sensor.

33. The processing facility of claim 18, wherein the viewing window is formed as a display controlled by the display unit, or in that the viewing window is formed as a projection screen for the display unit.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein status information is displayed in peripheral areas in a viewing window, and/or in that the warning indication or the error indication is displayed in a central area in a viewing window.

Description

[0053] The subject matter is explained in more detail below with the aid of the figures illustrating exemplary embodiments. In the figures show:

[0054] FIG. 1 a schematic view of a filling installation;

[0055] FIG. 2a a first illustration of a viewing pane;

[0056] FIG. 2b a second illustration of a viewing pane;

[0057] FIG. 2c a third illustration of a viewing pane;

[0058] FIG. 2d a fourth illustration of a viewing pane;

[0059] FIG. 3a a first illustration of a display;

[0060] FIG. 3b a second illustration of a display;

[0061] FIG. 3c a third illustration of a display;

[0062] FIG. 3d a fourth illustration of a display;

[0063] FIG. 3e a fifth illustration of a display;

[0064] FIG. 3f a sixth illustration of a display;

[0065] The representation of information about the state of a processing facility according to the subject matter can be demonstrated, by way of example, at a filling facility In a filling installation, for example for foodstuffs, package sleeves 2 produced from packaging material are firstly fed into an unfolding device 4. In the unfolding device 4, the package sleeves 2 initially folded flat together are unfolded and closed on one side.

[0066] The unfolded package sleeves 2a are then conveyed to a filling device 6. The foodstuff is filled into the unfolded package sleeves 2a in the filling device 6.

[0067] The package sleeves 2b filled by the filling device 6 are then conveyed to a closing unit 8. In the closing unit 8, the gables of the filled package sleeves 2b are closed, for example by welding/sealing the gable edge. The closed, filled packages 2c are then fed out of the closing unit 8.

[0068] Of course, the above representation of a filling facility is purely schematic. Notably, no sterilisation unit, for example, is provided. A sterilisation unit can be present in the filling device 6. It is also possible for the devices to be encased in a common housing, in particular the filling device 6 and the closing unit 8 can be encased together in a housing in a sterilisation area. Other stations can be part of a filling facility, but for a clearer overview they are not represented.

[0069] It can be seen in FIG. 1 that each of the devices 4-8 is connected to a control computer 12 and a database 14 via a data link 10 (communication link). The data link 10 can be a wired LAN connection for example. Wireless connections can also be implemented, for example by means of WLAN. It is also possible for a mixture of different types of data links 10 to be used.

[0070] The devices 4-8 receive control instructions from the control computer 12, by means of which the operating means can be hydraulically, pneumatically and/or electrically operated according to predefined rules. Inside the devices 4-6, parameters of the operating means are detected by means of various sensors, as already described above by way of example. The collected state data, that is to say, the values of the respective parameters, are transmitted by the sensors of the devices 4-8 to the control computer 12 and/or to the database 14. In the database 14, a complete record for each batch from package sleeves 2a to the filled packages 2c relating to the respective parameters can be reproduced. The control computer 12 evaluates the operating parameters and applies control rules, in order to correspondingly control the devices 4 to 6.

[0071] Also this description of the control of the devices 4 to 8 is purely by way of example and purely schematic. For the subject matter, it can just be important that with the aid of the parameters detected by sensors, operating states of the devices 4 to 8 are determined by means of the control computer 12 and/or by means of the database 14 and, dependent on the operating states, instructions, indications, warnings or error messages or any other information about the processing station are generated for an operator of the devices 4 to 8 and subsequently displayed in the viewing window. Directions, operator instructions, warnings, error messages and operating data can, according to the subject matter of the invention, be visually presented to the operator by means of overlays in viewing windows, which are in any case present in coverings of the devices 4 to 8.

[0072] In FIG. 1, it can be identified that for example in the unfolding device 4 a viewing window 16a is provided. The viewing window 16 is integrated like a window into the covering of the unfolding device 4. For example, the covering of the unfolding device 4 can have a front door, into which the viewing window 16a is integrated. This door can be opened, in order to gain access to the operating means of the unfolding device 4.

[0073] The filling device 6 has an extensive viewing window 16b which almost occupies the whole area of a door of the covering of the filling device 6. The operator can view the complete filling device through this viewing window and receive further information about the filling device 6 via the viewing window 16b.

[0074] The closing device 8 has two sliding doors, each of which has a viewing window 16c′, 16c″ respectively. Each of the viewing windows 16c′, 16c″ can be slid along a sliding groove guide, so that by sliding the viewing windows 16c′, 16c″ to the right or to the left the operator has access to the operating means of the closing device 8.

[0075] Of course, the illustrated viewing windows 16a to 16c purely serve as examples. A viewing window consisting of glass, plexiglass or another transparent or semi-transparent material can be provided in a covering which can be arranged as a surrounding housing or only as a mechanical protection at a device 4 to 8. The operator can view the operating means of the respective device 4-8 via this viewing window 16a-16c. In addition, according to the subject matter of the invention, the operator receives additional information about the respective devices 4 to 6 via the viewing windows 16a-16c. Such additional information is overlaid in the viewing windows 16a-16c.

[0076] FIG. 2a schematically shows a processing facility, for example one of the devices 4-8, with a covering 18 and a viewing window 16. Here, the filling device 6 is illustrated by way of example. Various sensors 20a-20c are arranged at the filling device 6. The filling device 6 with its operating means is purely schematically illustrated as a block and it should be understood that operating means which are driven hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically and/or in another way are present in the filling device 6.

[0077] Furthermore, the covering 18 is only partly shown. The covering 18 can also fully surround the filling device 6 and in this way form an aseptic area for example. The viewing window 16 is formed in the covering 18 as a safety glass pane for example. However, it is also possible for the viewing window to be formed from another material which is at least semi-transparent. Here, plexiglass is appropriate for example. The viewing window 16 can also be coated, in order to influence its transmission and/or reflection properties.

[0078] The sensors can, for example, be a photoelectric sensor 20a, a temperature sensor 20b and a pressure sensor 20c. All other types of sensors are also possible.

[0079] An operator 22 is also illustrated in FIG. 2a. Here, for example, different directions of view 24a-24c of the operator 22 are illustrated.

[0080] Finally, a display device 26 is illustrated in FIG. 2a. The viewing window 16 is formed as a rear projection screen for the display device 26 in FIG. 2a. In other words, from the view of the operator 22 the rear side of the viewing window 16 serves as a projection screen. A display is overlaid onto this projection screen on the viewing window 16 by the display device 26. The type of display which is overlaid onto the viewing window 16 by the display device 26 is, for example, controlled by the control computer 12 and/or the database 14 and/or higher-level control computers which are not illustrated here. For this purpose, the display device 26 is connected via the data link 10 to the control computer 12 and a data network possibly arranged behind it (not illustrated).

[0081] The form of the viewing window 16 can correspond to the illustrations in FIG. 1 for example. However, any other forms and types of viewing windows 16 are also possible. What is essential is that the viewing window 16 at least partly provides the operator 22 with a view of the installation, in this case the filling device 6 and its sensors 20a to 20c. In FIG. 2a, it is assumed that the operator 22 is standing centrally in front of the viewing window 16. In this case, it is possible to at least approximately determine in advance the lines of sight 24a-24c along which the operator 22 is looking at a respective sensor 20a-20b. By means of this information, the display device 26 can be controlled in such a way that information relating to the photoelectric sensor can be at least partly displayed in the area of the line of sight 24a. Information relating to the temperature sensor 20b is at least partly displayed on the line of sight 24b and information relating to the pressure sensor 20c is at least partly displayed on the line of sight 24c.

[0082] Furthermore, additional information relating to the operating states and parameter values of the filling device 6 can be overlaid on the viewing window 16 by means of the display device 26. The operator 22 is hereby provided with additional information when he or she looks at the filling device 6, which makes the operation of the filling device 6 easier for him or her. Instructions or warnings can be overlaid for him or her, by means of which he or she can operate the filling device 6 without consulting an additional technician.

[0083] FIG. 2b shows the filling device 6 essentially according to FIG. 2a. In FIG. 2b, only the display device 26 and the viewing window 16 are different compared to FIG. 2a. A tracking camera 28 is also provided on the covering 18, by means of which a position A, B, C of an operator 22 can be detected.

[0084] The display device 26 and the tracking camera 28 are connected to the control computer 12 and/or the database 14 via the data link 10.

[0085] The viewing window 16 is illustrated split into two parts in FIG. 2b. On the one hand, the viewing window 16 has a transparent pane 16′ and, on the other hand, it has a semi-transparent display 16″ arranged on the pane 16′. This display 16″ enables information to be visually presented.

[0086] Of course, the various viewing windows 16 in FIGS. 2a to 2d, the various display devices 26 and the various tracking cameras 28 are combinable and exchangeable with one another. All the features which are described in the figures are interchangeable.

[0087] In order to overlay information to the operator 22 relating to the sensor or operating means, which he or she at the moment is looking at, directly in his or her field of vision along his or her line of sight 24a, the position A, B or C of the operator 22 is detected by means of the tracking camera 28. Then, the line of sight 24a′, a″ or a′″ of the operator 22 onto that sensor 20 relating to which information is directly overlaid is calculated. By way of example, it is illustrated in FIG. 2b that a crucial temperature, for example, is overlaid relating to the temperature sensor 20b.

[0088] The temperature sensor 20b measures, for example, the temperature of the product to be filled which, for example, is not allowed to be heated above 90 degrees Celsius. If the temperature of the product to be filled reaches, for example, 88 degrees Celsius, this can be a critical temperature. In this case, the temperature together with a warning indication, for example a symbol for the temperature sensor 2b, is displayed by the display device 26. For this purpose, which position A, B or C the operator 22 has at the current point in time is communicated to the display device 26. The display device 26 thereupon determines the line of sight 24a of the operator 22 onto the sensor 20b. The information relating to the sensor 20b is now overlaid into this line of sight by means of the display device 26. In other words, if the operator is standing at position A, information relating to the temperature sensor 20b is overlaid to him or her along the line of sight 24a′.

[0089] If, on the other hand, the operator 22 is at position B, the line of sight 24a″ is another line of sight onto the temperature sensor 20b and the display device 26 causes the information relating to the temperature sensor 20b to be overlaid on this line of sight 24a″. The same applies for position C of the operator 22, in which the information relating to temperature 20b is overlaid on the line of sight 24a′″. The user 22 can hereby always gain access to information in his or her direction of view of that operating means relating to which this information has been overlaid. Overlapping the overlaid information with the visual sensory perceptions of the real operating means facilitates the assignment of the information to the respective operating means.

[0090] FIG. 2c shows a similar arrangement as in FIGS. 2a and 2b. In contrast to the previous figures, the display device 26 is attached to a display 16″ which is mounted on the outside of the viewing window 16′. Such a display 16″ can correspond to the display 16″ in G 2b. A position A, D of the operator 22 can be detected by means of a tracking camera 28. The position A, D of the operator 22 can be decisive for the type of overlaid information.

[0091] A position A of the operator 22 in the area of the viewing window 16 or the covering 18 can result in the display device 26 displaying plain text information relating to operating means of the filling device 6. Since the operator 22 is in the close vicinity of the filling device 6 and hence in the close vicinity of the viewing window 16, he or she can receive detailed information relating to a warning, an error or operator instructions. He or she can read them immediately, since he or she is so close to the viewing window.

[0092] However, if the operator is further away from the viewing window 16, in particular at an angle of more than 60 degrees from the centre axis of the viewing window 16, it can be concluded that the operator 22 can only perceive information on the display 16″ in his or her outer field of vision. This results in the display device 26 being instructed to display less detailed information. This can, for example, be a display of a large symbol which symbolises a warning or an error. The operator 22 can also perceive such a symbol from far away and then go to the filling device 6 in order to obtain details relating to the warning or error. The tracking camera 28 detects that the operator 22 has, for example, moved from position D to position A and this leads, by means of the display device 26, to the symbol which was previously displayed becoming detailed information.

[0093] FIG. 2d shows a similar arrangement as in FIGS. 2a to 2c. However, here, in contrast, the display device 26 is arranged as a front projector. That is to say, the information is projected onto the viewing window 16 on the front side by means of the display device 26. For this purpose, the viewing window 16 has a semi-transparent coating on its front side, so that light, which is projected by the display device 26 onto the viewing window 16, is at least partly reflected and also if possible in the direction of the centre axis of the viewing window 16.

[0094] In addition, FIG. 2d illustrates that a mobile information unit 30 can be provided. This can be a mobile telephone or a mobile PDA, for example a tablet computer. The information which is overlaid on the viewing window 16 can be transmitted wirelessly from the display device 26 to the information unit 30. Furthermore, additional information relating to the information which is currently displayed on the viewing window 16 can be transmitted from the display device to the information unit 30.

[0095] It is also possible for the display device 26 to receive information from the information unit 30. It can make sense if the information unit 30 belongs to a technician, for example, who wants to help the operator. The technician can convey additional information for operating the filling device 6 from his or her information unit 30 to the display device 26. This then correspondingly displays the information on the viewing window 16 and the technician with the aid of the additionally displayed information can very easily explain to the operator 22 how he or she can correct a possible error for the filling device 6 or how he or she can adjust the sensors 20a-20c. For the operator, what is explained registers particularly well, since the technician's description is enhanced by additional information which is displayed on the viewing window 16.

[0096] FIGS. 3a-3f show examples of the display on the viewing window. FIGS. 3a to 3f respectively show an image on a viewing window 16, as it is perceived by an operator 22. In the FIGS. 3a to 3f, dashed lines are to be interpreted as representing the actual operating means, for example of the filling device. Here, both actuators and sensors can act as operating means and can, by way of example, represent the sensors 20a and 20b as parts of the filling device 6 in FIG. 3a. Therefore, the operator sees through the viewing window 16 the filling device 6 with the sensors 20a and 20b. Solid lines represent what is displayed on the viewing window 16. The real information (dashed) is overlaid with the displayed information (solid) on the viewing window.

[0097] A so-called “home screen” is illustrated in FIG. 3a. This view can be presented to the operator 22, for example, if the filling device 6 is working properly and no manual intervention is necessary. The current time 32a, the signal strength 32b of a wireless network, the state 32c of the filling device 6, the batch number 32d of the currently processed package and all current user accesses 32e to the filling device 6, for example, can be displayed to the operator 22 on the upper screen edge. In this way, the operator 22 can observe at a glance the filling device 6 along with additional information. In particular, the display of the accesses 32e to the filling device 6 enable the operator to monitor who is currently intervening in or observing the process of the filling device 6.

[0098] FIG. 3b shows the viewing window 16, in which additional information windows 34a, 34b are displayed to the operator 22 when he or she looks at the filling device 6. The positioning of the information windows 34a, 34b can be determined by the control computer 12. This positioning can also be dependent on the position of the operator 22, as already described in connection with FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0099] Current operating information, state data, operator instructions or suchlike can be overlaid in the information windows 34a, 34b. These can be fed in by an external computer, for example, in order to draw the operator's 22 attention to certain things. It is also possible for the operator 22 to invoke the information windows 34a, 34b via the information unit 30. To that end, he or she can, for example, arrange for information to be correspondingly retrieved by the control computer 12 or for this information to be transmitted from the information unit 30 to the display device 26. The information can contain both symbols and plain text.

[0100] FIG. 3c shows a further example, in which an information window 34c is positioned in the area on the viewing window 16 which lies in the line of sight of the operator 22 onto the sensor 20. This can be useful, for example, if information relating to the sensor 20a is to be displayed in the information window 34c. The information can be both symbols and plain text. For example, the information 34c can merely be a coloured circle which indicates that something has to be adjusted on the sensor 20a. The operator 22 can then manually adjust or exchange the sensor 20a by opening the covering or the viewing window 16. Therefore, when looking at the sensor 20a the operator 22 directly receives the information from the information window 34c.

[0101] If the operator 22 is at position D, for example, he or she is remote from the viewing window 16. In this case, he or she is not able to pick up any detailed information from there. However, in the case of an error, it is also, as illustrated in G 3d, by way of example proposed that a warning indicator is displayed as symbol 36 in the viewing window 16, so that the operator 22 is also able to detect this error out of the corners of his or her eyes. This symbol 36 is, for example, displayed over a large area in the viewing window 16 and can be displayed in a signal colour, for example red. It is also possible for the symbol 36 to be displayed flashing. Even if the operator 22 is remote from the viewing window 16, he or she can certainly notice such a warning indicator or the symbol 36.

[0102] In order to be able to guide the operator 22, who is monitoring a whole production line for example, quickly to the error location in the event of an error, it is also possible, as illustrated in FIG. 3e, to display direction indicators 38 on the viewing window 16. These direction indicators 38, which are arrow-shaped for example, show the direction which that viewing window 16 on which an error message is displayed as symbol 36 is in. Hence, the operator 22, who is remote from the error location, can be alerted from there as to which direction he or she has to move in in order to get to the error.

[0103] When the operator 22 has been guided to the error location for example by means of the direction indicators 38 according to FIG. 3e, he or she is able, when he or she has reached the location, to recognise the error as an error indication according to FIG. 3f. Here, it is illustrated that for example the symbol 36, if the operator 22 is directly at the viewing window 16, is limited to the area in which the error has occurred. In the present case, this, by way of example, is the sensor 20b. The symbol 36 is arranged in such a way that it lies in the line of sight of the operator 22 to the sensor 20b. The operator therefore immediately recognises that something is wrong at the sensor 20b.

[0104] An information window 34d can be additionally displayed, on which both the type of error and possibly operator instructions can be displayed to the user 22, in order to correct the error. Hence, the operator 22 can recognise the error through the viewing window 16 and additionally receives instructions how to correct it. Subsequently, the operator 22 can remove the covering 18 or the viewing window 16 and correct the error according to the instructions provided in the information window 34d.

[0105] The productivity of processing facilities can be considerably increased by means of the solution of the subject matter, since malfunctions can be recognised at an early stage and the operator can be given instructions to correct them. These occur directly at the installation and are easily understandable to the operator. By assigning the information to the real visual sensory perceptions of the operator, it is possible to make instructions particularly understandable to the operator.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0106] 2 Package sleeves [0107] 2a Unfolded package sleeves [0108] 2b Filled package sleeves [0109] 2c Filled package [0110] 4 Unfolding device [0111] 6 Filling device [0112] 8 Closing device [0113] 10 Data link [0114] 12 Control computer [0115] 14 Database [0116] 16a, b Viewing window [0117] 16′ Pane [0118] 16″ Display [0119] 18 Covering [0120] 20a Photoelectric sensor [0121] 20b Temperature sensor [0122] 20c Pressure sensor [0123] 22 Operator [0124] 24a-c Line of sight [0125] 26 Display device [0126] 28 Tracking camera [0127] 30 Information unit [0128] 32 Upper screen edge [0129] 32a Time [0130] 32b Signal strength [0131] 32c State [0132] 32d Batch number [0133] 32e Access [0134] 34a-d Information windows [0135] 36 Symbol [0136] 38 Direction indicator