MACHINE SYSTEM

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a machine system, in particular a packaging and/or processing machine, which comprises at least one input/retrieval device for inputting a first group of parameters of a complete set of parameters comprising the first group and at least a second group of parameters as adjustment parameters for operating the machine. The second group of parameters can be transmitted to the input/retrieval device from the Internet, where the number of and/or changes to the parameters of the first group can be selected/or determined via the Internet. As a result, a respective machine system is improved in such a way that a user of the machine system can be given limitations when adjusting his machine system in order, for example, to enable a usage and/or function-based billing model.

Claims

1. A packaging and/or processing machine system, comprising at least one input/retrieval device for entering a first group of parameters of a complete set of parameters comprising the first group and at least one second group of parameters as adjustment parameters for operating the machine system, where the second group of parameters can be transmitted to the input/retrieval device from the Internet, and where the number of and/or changes to the parameters of the first group can be selected and/or can be determined via the Internet.

2. The machine system according to claim 1, where the machine system is usable only to a limited extent or is switched off in the absence of an Internet connection.

3. The machine system according to claim 1, where input pages downloadable from the Internet or from an external server are displayable on the input/retrieval device in the presence of an Internet connection.

4. The machine system according to claim 1, where the parameters of the second group can be used for interaction with the machine system and/or for selecting or changing the parameters of the first group.

5. The machine system according to claim 1 where the usage of the machine system is determined by the parameters of the second group.

6. The machine system according to claim 1, where an interaction with the machine system or the adjustment values of a machine control device can be determined or parameters of the first group can be changed using input pages, where the input pages are locally instanced or updated.

7. The machine system according to claim 1, where the parameters of the first group can be calculated and/or determined as a function of the parameters of the second group.

8. The machine system according to claim 1, where changes to the adjustment parameters of the machine system by way of the input/retrieval device are limited and cannot be changed without an Internet connection.

9. The machine system according to claim 1, where the machine system is switched on for a predetermined time and/or usage and can be switched off in the absence of feedback from the Internet.

10. The machine system according to claim 1, where the machine system comprises a license module and/or a separate control module for providing a previously determined limitation of time or usage, and information on predetermined operating resources are stored in the license module or control module or on the Internet.

11. The machine system according to claim 1, where the adjustment parameters or parameters of at least the first group of parameters cannot be changed until the machine system has been switched off.

12. The machine system according to claim 1, where the machine system is to be released via the Internet after having been stopped or switched off, where the machine system can be released in an automated manner by an external server via the Internet.

13. The machine system according to claim 1, where, after a predetermined time and/or a predetermined usage of the machine system, the machine system is switched to a sleep mode, in which the adjustment values of the machine system are restored to an initial state and/or a sequence control system of the machine system is blocked.

14. The machine system according to claim 1, where the machine system is limited to a certain number of functions or processes.

15. The machine system according to claim 1, where the machine system comprises a logging device for logging with a time stamp for usages of the machine system, where the logging results can be transmitted to an external server.

16. The machine system according to claim 1, where a new license for using the machine system can be downloaded from a license module.

17. A packaging and/or processing machine system comprising an input/retrieval device for entering a first group of parameters of a complete set of parameters comprising the first group and a second group of parameters, the second group of parameters being adjustment parameters for operating the machine system, where the second group of parameters are transmittable to the input/retrieval device from the Internet, and where the number of and/or changes to the parameters of the first group can be obtained via the Internet.

18. The machine system according to claim 17, where the machine system switches off in the absence of an Internet connection.

19. The machine system according to claim 17, where the usage of the machine system is determined by the parameters of the second group.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The disclosure shall be explained in more detail below with reference to the FIGURE appended in the drawing.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a basic illustration of a machine system according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a lateral schematic representation of a machine system 1, in this case a packaging machine 2. It is to be noted, however, that the disclosure relates not only to an individual packaging machine, but also to a series of machines forming a system or line of several machines, such as. e.g., packaging and processing machines and the like.

[0030] Packaging machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 comprises e.g., a base film 18 which is supplied from a roll and from which a number of packaging parts 15 are formed. They are moved along a loading stretch 14 in which a product is placed into packaging parts 15. A top film 17 also from a respective roll is sealed on in a chamber 16, so that, overall, a closed package with a product disposed therein is transported onward. The respective packagings are then separated from one another and transported onward. Packaging machine 2, which can also be a respective processing machine 3, forms part of respective machine system 1. Packaging machine 2 is associated with a machine control device 7 which comprises a logging device 9 and e.g., a license module 10 as part of the machine control device or as a separate control module 11. Packaging machine 2 also comprises an input/retrieval device 4 with visualization software 12 for displaying input pages 13. Packaging machine 2 and in particular machine control device 7 are connected to Internet 5 via an Internet connection 8 to which an external server 6 is also connected.

[0031] To operate the machine system or the packaging machine shown in FIG. 1, a number of adjustment parameters is required which, according to the disclosure, comprises at least two groups of parameters. A first group of parameters can be entered at the input/retrieval device. A second group of parameters is transmitted from the Internet, where the first group of parameters and the second group of parameters then form a complete set of parameters which as a whole comprises the adjustment parameters necessary for operating the machine system.

[0032] The first group of parameters comprises some parameters that can be entered by a user of the machine system at input/retrieval device 4, where this input/retrieval device comprises e.g., respective input pages 13 as part of a visualization software 12. The corresponding visualizations can be downloaded from the Internet or the cloud in the form of HTML pages and the first group of parameters can then be entered accordingly. However, the complete set of parameters for operating the machine system arises only together with the second group of parameters. The number of and/or change to the first group of parameters can optionally be adjustable or limited and an input of the first group of parameters can be deactivated, in particular, in the absence of an Internet connection, so that the machine system is possibly only usable to a limited extent or is also switched off. This can take place, e.g., after a predetermined time without feedback from the Internet so that the machine control device only stops the machine system after this predetermined time. Renewed release of the machine system is not possible without feedback from the Internet, but can only take place online e.g., by an external server 6 via Internet 5 and accordingly via an Internet connection 8. Furthermore, the respective deactivation of the machine system can take place not only when it is offline, but possibly also in dependence of a license verification by way of a respective license module 10 which is part of machine control device 7 or of a separate control module 11. This implements a so-called pay-per-use billing model, whereby it is possible e.g., to use the machine system for a limited time, only for certain usage or number of uses, certain processes or the like. In addition, this pay-per-use billing model defines the number of cycles executed, of packagings produced, the consumption of operating resources and the like. Corresponding payment can therefore be calculated on the basis of the respective usage, functions used, or number/frequency of processes of the machine system executed. The fact that the machine system can only be operated with an existing Internet connection, so that the machine system is no longer operational or is only operational to a limited extent without a corresponding Internet connection serves this purpose. The limited operability can be constituted, for example, by the fact that the machine system can only be operated with a previously defined output and/or only with predetermined operating resources. According to the disclosure, a respective input page is displayed at the input/retrieval device as an HMI in dependence of the presence of the Internet connection and then only allow certain interactions with the machine system or only allow or prohibit certain changes to adjustment values, see first group of parameters.

[0033] According to the disclosure, the machine system can therefore only be used if both sets of parameters are available, where machine settings are generally not able to be generated or changed without a respective Internet connection. According to the disclosure, the respectively permitted usage and the like of the machine system is only permitted as long as this is made possible by corresponding license module 10. The respective usage options are stored in this license module both in temporal terms as well as regarding their number and can possibly be extended or changed by the respective acquisition of a new license. The new license can also be acquired via the input/retrieval device.

[0034] Furthermore, the disclosure makes it possible for the lessor or leaser to determine in a simple manner whether maintenance is necessary, whether additional operating resources need to be delivered, whether possible failures of the machine system are to be expected, whereby respective outage times of the machine system or even downtimes are avoided to the extent possible. This means that there is also the possibility of recording consumption and other data in real time due to the respective connection of the machine system to the Internet and the use of the corresponding groups of parameters, as well as implementing new billing options for renting and leasing that are usage-based, function-based, or performance-based. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any or all of the devices, modules, and/or systems 4, 7, 9 10, and 11 and/or any other unit, system, or device described herein may comprise, in whole or in part, a combination of analog and digital circuits, such as one or more processors configured with software and/or firmware, e.g., stored in a memory, that when executed by the one or more processors perform the functions and/or operations described herein. One or more of such processors, as well as other digital hardware, may be included in a single ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a SoC (System-on-a-Chip).