Controlled system for manufacturing products

Abstract

Described herein is a system including at least one manufacturing machine that has at least one actuator module, a computer, and a first communication means. The system can also include a remote server that has an information storage means, a second communication means connected to the first communication means by a communication channel. For each product to be manufactured, the system includes at least one identifier and means for reading the identifiers. The means are coupled to the computer, the computer is configured to control the actuator module(s) on the basis of a reading of an identifier carried out by a reading means.

Claims

1. A system (1) comprising at least one manufacturing machine (2), the manufacturing machine comprising: at least one actuator module (3); a computer (4); and a first communication means (5); wherein the system also comprises a remote server (7), the remoter server (7) comprising: a means (8) for storing information, wherein the information relates to a manufacturing method to be implemented by the manufacturing machine (2) or relates to a product (P) to be manufactured by the manufacturing machine (2); a second communication means (9) linked to the first communication means (5) by a communication channel; wherein the system (1) comprises, for each product (P) to be manufactured, at least one identifier; wherein the storage means (8) incorporates a database mapping said identifiers with the information of said product (P); wherein the system (1) further comprises a reading means (6) for reading said identifiers, coupled to the computer (4); and wherein the computer (4) is parameterized to retrieve, via said communication channel and on the basis of a reading of the identifier performed by the reading means (6), the information corresponding to the identifier, in order to control the actuator module or modules (3) on the basis of said retrieved information and/or consult information linked to said product (P) to be manufactured and/or to the manufacturing machine (2).

2. The system (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising computing units (13) coupled to the remote server (7) to transmit to the remote server (7) and/or update the information stored, or to be stored, in the storage means (8).

3. The system (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one computing device (14) coupled to the computer (4) of the manufacturing machine (2), wherein the computing device (14) receives at least a part of the information stored in the storage means (8) of the remote server (7).

4. The system (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the identifiers are a QR code or a barcode.

5. The system (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifiers are an NFC or an RFID.

6. The system (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information contained in the storage means (8) for each container is selected from at least one of the following types: a digital drawing of the product (P) to be manufactured; a setting parameter of the manufacturing machine (2); a program controlling the actuator modules (3) of the manufacturing machine (2); and information on series production of the product (P).

7. The system (1) as claimed claim 1, wherein the products (P) to be manufactured are of the type of containers made of plastic material obtained by a blow-molding or stretch blow-molding method.

8. The system (1) as claimed in claim 1, the identifier is borne by a drawing (12) of hardcopy type presenting a definition of the product (P) to be manufactured.

9. The system (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is a symbol (10), an electronic chip (11), or both.

10. A method for manufacturing a product by means of a system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: reading an identifier by a reading means (6); retrieving, a the communication channel, information corresponding to the identifier, by means of a computer (4); and controlling actuator modules (3) of the manufacturing machine (2) via the information retrieved by the computer (4).

11. The method for manufacturing a product as claimed in 1, further comprising a step of updating the information contained in a storage means (8) of a remote server (7) by at least one computer unit (13).

Description

[0074] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system according to the invention;

[0075] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a drawing of a product to be manufactured by means of the system of FIG. 1, this drawing comprising an identifier allowing said product to be manufactured;

[0076] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a flow diagram of a method for producing or manufacturing a product by means of the system according to FIG. 1.

[0077] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 1 for manufacturing products P, according to the invention.

[0078] This system 1 comprises at least one manufacturing machine 2 including: [0079] at least one actuator module 3; [0080] a computer 4; [0081] first communication means 5.

[0082] The system 1 also comprises reading means 6.

[0083] These reading means 6 are preferentially incorporated in the manufacturing machine 2.

[0084] In a variant, the reading means 6 are roaming and for example take the form of an optical sensor incorporated in a mobile electronic device of smartphone or digital tablet type.

[0085] The reading means 6 are advantageously of analog type.

[0086] The system 1 also comprises a remote server 7 including: [0087] information storage means 8; [0088] second communication means 9.

[0089] Preferably, the information stored in the storage means 8 relate to a manufacturing method to be implemented by the manufacturing machine 2 or information relating to a product P to be manufactured by the manufacturing machine 2.

[0090] The second communication means 9 are intended to cooperate with the first communication means 5 of the manufacturing machine 2, as explained hereinbelow.

[0091] The system 1 according to the invention comprises, for each product P to be manufactured, an identifier taking the form of a symbol 10 and/or an electronic chip 11 associated with said product P to be manufactured.

[0092] More particularly, this symbol 10 and/or electronic chip 11 is borne by a drawing 12 of hardcopy type showing a definition of the product P.

[0093] Such a product P to be manufactured is, for example, a container made of plastic material obtained by a blow-molding or stretch blow-molding method.

[0094] The drawing 12, for example a sheet notably in A4 or A3 format, can bear, in one corner, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, either a symbol 10 of QR code or barcode type for example, or an electronic chip 11 of NFC (acronym for near field communication) or RFID (acronym for radio frequency identification) type.

[0095] According to another embodiment not illustrated in the figures, the support of the identifier is a reproduction of the product which will be manufactured.

[0096] The identifier, that is to say the symbol 10 or the electronic chip 11 is intended to be read by the reading means 6 of the manufacturing machine 2.

[0097] For that, the storage means 8 incorporate a database mapping the symbols 10 and/or electronic chips 11 with the information of said product P.

[0098] Indeed, as explained hereinbelow, by the reading of the symbol 10 or of the electronic chip 11, manufacturing information or information concerning the product P to be manufactured is retrieved from the database of the storage means 8 in order to be able to set up the manufacturing of said product P or allow an operator, technician or engineer to use or consult information linked to the product P.

[0099] This information is, by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, digital drawings of the product P to be manufactured, setting parameters of the manufacturing machine 2, or even information on series production of the product P.

[0100] Other types of information can also be obtained by the reading of the symbol 10 or of the electronic chip 11.

[0101] For that, the reading means 6 of the manufacturing machine 2 are coupled to the computer 4.

[0102] The computer 4 is then parameterized to identify an open communication channel between the first communication means 5 of the manufacturing machine 2 and the second communication means 9 of the remote server 7, based on a reading of a symbol 10 and/or of an electronic chip 11, and retrieve, via said open communication channel, the information corresponding to the symbol 10 and/or to the electronic chip 11.

[0103] The retrieved information can for example make it possible to set the actuator module or modules 3 of the manufacturing machine 2.

[0104] Indeed, the retrieved information can notably comprise a program controlling the actuator modules 3 of the manufacturing machine 2.

[0105] Consequently, it is possible for an operator to initiate a manufacturing cycle by the simple reading of the symbol 10 or of the electronic chip 11, the manufacturing machine 2 then being controlled by the computer 4 and more particularly according to the program retrieved by the computer 4.

[0106] The system 1 also comprises computing units 13 coupled to the remote server 7 to transmit, to the remote server 7, and/or update, the information stored or to be stored in the storage means 8.

[0107] Thus, manufacturers of raw materials or even designers can transmit information to the remote server 7, this information being able to be characteristics of the product which will be manufactured or setting information for the manufacturing machine 2.

[0108] As an example, the update of the content of the storage means 8 can relate to a modification of the manufacturing method to make it more efficient for example, or a modification of the form of the product P to be manufactured which can possibly change the manufacturing parameters of the manufacturing machine 2.

[0109] The system 1 also comprises computing devices 14 coupled to the computer 4 of the manufacturing machine 2 and intended to receive at least a part of the information stored in the storage means 8 of the remote server 7.

[0110] As an example, these computing devices 14 can take the form of a screen 141, touch or otherwise, permanently mounted on the manufacturing machine 2, or even a smartphone or a digital tablet 142, and form roaming objects owned by operators involved in the manufacturing cycle of a product P.

[0111] That notably makes it possible, for a manufacturing engineer, to obtain knowledge of the manufacturing parameters, and for example check the parameters of the manufacturing machine 2.

[0112] The manufacturing of a product P by means of the system 1 previously described is performed according to the method comprising the steps described hereinbelow.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 3, the method comprises a first step 100 consisting in reading a symbol 10 and/or an electronic chip 11 via the reading means 6 of the manufacturing machine 2.

[0114] A second step 200 consists in identifying, by the computer 4, a communication channel between the first communication means 5 and the second communication means 9.

[0115] The method comprises a third step 300 consisting in retrieving, on the manufacturing machine 2, via said open communication channel, the information corresponding to the identifier, by means of the computer 4 of the manufacturing machine 2.

[0116] The database of the storage means 8 maps said identifiers borne by each of the drawings 12 with the information on products P contained in the storage means 8.

[0117] The method comprises a fourth step 400 consisting in controlling the actuator modules 3 of the manufacturing machine 2 on the basis of the information retrieved by the computer 4.

[0118] Furthermore, the manufacturing method also comprises a fifth step 500 consisting in updating the information contained in the storage means 8 of the remote server 7 by means of at least one computing unit 13.

[0119] This fifth step is optional and makes it possible, if applicable, to modify the information contained in the remote server 7, notably for updating it or adding new information to it.

[0120] Information can also be deleted, notably when a product P is no longer manufactured.

[0121] The system 1 for manufacturing products P and the method which have just been described make it possible to manufacture products P easily, notably by virtue of the fact that a production operator or engineer simply has to read the symbol 10 or the electronic chip 11 by the reading means 6 to load, automatically, a manufacturing program, manufacturing data, or even characteristics of the product, which make it possible to perform the manufacturing of the products P in total safety.

[0122] Furthermore, for the updates via the computing units 13, it is possible, simply and rapidly, to update a method for manufacturing a product or obtain information on any product P.

[0123] Moreover, that makes it possible to smooth the manufacturing methods and the exchanges between the various people involved, notably between the manufacturer and the suppliers of raw materials, while preventing the risk of error since, when the information is entered in the server, provided that it has been checked and that it is correct, all the manufacturing machines 2 invoking this information will be able to properly manufacture the product P.

[0124] Thus, unless a change of parameters is performed deliberately by a production agent on one of the manufacturing machines 2, all the manufacturing machines 2 will produce products P according to identical manufacturing parameters and set points.

[0125] Furthermore, that makes it possible to guarantee the manufacture of identical products P on different manufacturing machines 2, since each manufacturing machine invokes the same manufacturing information and the latter is not entered manually by an operator, which limits the risks of human error and guarantees a manufacturing of products P in accordance with preestablished criteria.

[0126] It should also be noted that the symbol 10 or the electronic chip 11 can allow access to information that a simple 2D medium cannot contain, such as, for example, access via a server to computing files allowing the 3D printing of models corresponding to the products to be manufactured.

[0127] The symbol 10 or the electronic chip 11 can also be encrypted and allow access to the abovementioned information, contained on a server, only for a user having an identifier and a password that are recognized. That therefore makes it possible to offer services that a simple 2D drawing cannot offer, and can allow connectivity of several machines via a dedicated network.