FILLING LINE FOR PRODUCING FOODS MADE OF A PASTY MASS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

Abstract

A filling line is provided and includes a first filling machine having a first machine controller, and one or more second filling machines having a second machine controller, which is selectively operable independently of the first filling machine. The filling line also includes a data interface for connecting the machine controllers to each other for control communication. The machine controllers are configured to be operated reciprocally either in a slave control mode or in a master control mode, depending on control information provided. The slave control mode transmits read and write rights in respect of recipe-relevant process parameters to the machine controller operated in the master control mode, and the master control mode implements the transferred read and write rights in the machine controller operated in the master control mode. A method for operating such a filling line is also provided.

Claims

1. A filling line (100, 100) for producing foods made of a pasty mass or foods stuffed into casings, comprising: a first filling machine (1) having a first machine controller (2), one or more second filling machines (4) having a second machine controller (6), which is selectively operable in cooperation with the first filling machine (1) and independently of the first filling machine (1), and a data interface (8) for connecting the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) for control communication, wherein the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) are configured to be operated reciprocally either in a slave control mode or in a master control mode, depending on control information (S1) provided to the first machine controller (2), and wherein the slave control mode transmits read and write rights to the machine controller operated in the master control mode (2, 6, 12), and the master control mode implements the transferred read and write rights in the machine controller (2, 6, 12) operated in the master control mode.

2. A filling line (100, 100) for producing foods made of a pasty mass or foods stuffed into casings, comprising: a first filling machine (1) having a first machine controller (2), one or more second filling machines (4) having a second machine controller (6), which is selectively operable in cooperation with the first filling machine (1) and independently of the first filling machine (1), and a data interface (8) for connecting the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) for control communication, wherein the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) are configured to be operated reciprocally either in a slave control mode or in a master control mode, depending on control information (S1) provided to the second machine controller (6), and wherein the slave control mode transmits read and write rights to the machine controller operated in the master control mode (2, 6, 12), and the master control mode implements the transferred read and write rights in the machine controller (2, 6, 12) operated in the master control mode.

3. A filling line (100, 100) for producing foods made of a pasty mass or foods stuffed into casings, comprising: a first filling machine (1) having a first machine controller (2), one or more second filling machines (4) having a second machine controller (6), which is selectively operable in cooperation with the first filling machine (1) and independently of the first filling machine (1), and a data interface (8) for connecting the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) for control communication, wherein the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) are configured to be operated reciprocally either in a slave control mode or in a master control mode, depending on control information (S1) provided to the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6), wherein the slave control mode transfers read and write rights to the machine controller operated in master control mode (2, 6, 12), and the master control mode implements the transferred read and write rights in the machine controller (2, 6, 12) operated in the master control mode.

4. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the read and write rights further include at least one of the following: machine configurations, and operating modes.

5. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the read rights include at least one of the following: condition monitoring of the first filling machine (1) operated in slave control mode, condition monitoring of the second filling machine (4) operated in slave control mode, and process monitoring of the entire filling line (100, 100).

6. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 5, wherein the machine controllers (2, 6, 12) in master control mode are each configured by the condition monitoring to receive and to process at least one of the following: diagnostic data from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode, and error messages from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode.

7. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 5, wherein the machine controllers (2, 6, 12) in master control mode are each configured by the process monitoring to receive and to process at least one of the following: diagnostic data from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode, and error messages from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode.

8. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the data interface (8) is configured for real time data transmission between the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) and includes at least one of the following: a CAN bus and a bus line, an EtherCAT fieldbus and an Ethernet line, an Ether IP, and Ethernet with a potential-free contact.

9. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the control information (S1) includes first control information (S1) indicating target operation in master control mode and second control information (S2) indicating target operation in slave control mode.

10. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the data interface (8) has at least one first slot (40) and a second slot (42), and the control information (S1) is assigned to the first slot (40), the first control information (S1) being assigned to the first slot (40) and the second control information (S2) being assigned to the second slot (42).

11. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 9, wherein the data interface (8) has a storage medium (21) for storing the assignment of the control information (S1) to the first slot (40), and is configured to provide and transmit the control information (S1) to the first machine controller (2) or second machine controller (6) connected to the first slot (40).

12. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 10, wherein the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) each have a scanning function (19) and are configured to retrieve the control information (S1, S2) assigned to the slot (40, 42, 44, 46) when connected to the data interface (8).

13. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 9, further comprising: a computer program (60) and a processor (70) for running the computer program (60), which is connected to at least one of the first machine controller (2) and second machine controller (6) and is configured to do at least one of the following when running the computer program (60): provide at least the first control information (S1) to the first machine controller (2), provide at least the first control information (S1) to the second machine controller (6), and provide at least the first control information (S1) to the first machine controller (2) and to the second machine controller (6).

14. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) are each configured to also retrieve a slot occupancy (19) via the data interface (8) by a scanning function and, in the event that the first slot and the second slot (42) are occupied, to switch into master control mode or into slave control mode, depending on the control information.

15. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the first filling machine (1) has a first control panel (24) and the second filling machine (4) has a second control panel (28), wherein the machine controllers (2, 6, 12) are each configured to disable the control panel (24, 28) of the first filling machine (1) or second filling machine (4) operated in slave control mode.

16. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 15, wherein the first control panel (24) is configured to provide the first control information (S1) to the first machine controller (2) by manual input, and the second control panel (28) is configured to provide the first control information (S1) to the second machine controller (6) by manual input.

17. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 10, wherein the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) are configured in master control mode to provide the second control information (S2).

18. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, further comprising: a front-end device having a third machine controller which is in control communication with the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) via the data interface (8), wherein the third machine controller (2, 6, 12) is configured to be operated in slave control mode, depending on the control information provided, when there is control communication via the data interface (8), wherein two of the three machine controllers (2, 6, 12) are always operated in slave control mode.

19. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 15, wherein the first filling machine (1) and the second filling machine (4) each have a display unit (26, 30) that cooperates with the machine controller (2, 6, 12), and the control panel (24, 28) and the display units (28, 30) are configured in master control mode to display the implemented read and write rights and the read and write rights of the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in master control mode.

20. The filling line (100, 100) of claim 1, wherein the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6) are configured in master control mode to identify, when a first recipe-relevant process parameter is overwritten, all of the recipe-relevant process parameters, of at least the first filling machine (1) and the second filling machine (4), that are associated with the overwritten first recipe-relevant process parameter, and to adjust them correspondingly to the first recipe-relevant process parameter.

21. A method (1000, 1000, 2000) for operating a filling line (100, 100), comprising the steps of: providing the filling line of claim 1, a) connecting a first machine controller (2) of a first filling machine (1) to a data interface (1100) for control communication, b) connecting a second machine controller (6) of a second filling machine (4) to the data interface (1200) for control communication, c) providing (1300) control information to at least one of the first and second machine controllers (2, 6), d) initializing a first target control mode in the first machine controller (1410) and a second target control mode in the second machine controller (1420), depending on the control information provided, wherein the two target control modes include a master control mode and a slave control mode, wherein the initialization of the slave control mode includes the transfer of read and write rights (1421) to the machine controller operated in master control mode, and wherein the initialization of the master control mode includes the implementation of the transferred read and write rights in the machine controller (2, 6, 12) operated in master control mode (1411, 2411), and e) reciprocally operating the first machine controller (1510, 2510) and the second machine controller (1520, 2520) either in a master control mode or in a slave control mode, comprising the steps of fetching (1511, 2511) and overwriting (1512, 2512) the recipe-relevant process parameters of the first filling machine and the second filling machine (4, 10) by the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in master control mode.

22. The method (1000) of claim 21, wherein the read rights include condition monitoring of the first filling machine (1) or second filling machine (4) operated in slave control mode, and operation of the first machine controller (2) or the second machine controller (6) in the master control mode further comprises at least one of the steps of: e1) receiving and processing (1513) at least one of the following: diagnostic data from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode, error messages from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode, that are provided by at least one of the following: the equipment condition monitoring system, the process monitoring system, e2) switching off the second filling machine (4) in slave control mode, e3) stopping the second filling machine (4) in slave control mode, e4) adjusting recipe-relevant process parameters in the recipe settings by using the read and write rights (1514), and e5) stopping the second filling machine (4) in the master control mode.

23. The method (1000) of claim 21, wherein the read rights include process monitoring of the entire filling line (100, 100), and operation of the first machine controller (2) or the second machine controller (6) in the master control mode further comprises at least one of the steps of: e1) receiving and processing (1513) at least one of the following: diagnostic data from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode, error messages from the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in slave control mode, that are provided by at least one of the following: the equipment condition monitoring system, the process monitoring system, e2) switching off the second filling machine (4) in slave control mode, e3) stopping the second filling machine (4) in slave control mode, e4) adjusting recipe-relevant process parameters in the recipe settings by using the read and write rights (1514), and e5) stopping the second filling machine (4) in the master control mode.

24. The method (1000, 1000, 2000) of claim 21, wherein the data interface (8) has at least one first slot (40), to which the control information is assigned, and a second slot (42), and step c) comprises at least one of the following steps: c1) transmission (1421, 2421, 2431) of the control information by the data interface (8) when connected to the first slot (40), and c2) retrieval of the control information assigned to the first slot (40) by a scanning function (19) of the first machine controller (2) and the second machine controller (6).

25. The method (1000, 1000, 2000) of claim 21, wherein step c) further comprises the step of: c3) providing the control information to at least one the first and second machine controllers (2, 6) by manual input via a control panel.

26. The method (1000, 1000, 2000) of claim 21, wherein the control information is first control information (S1) indicating target operation in master control mode, and wherein step c) further comprises the step of: c4) provision of second control information (S2) indicating target operation in slave control mode by the machine controller operated or to be operated in master control mode.

27. The method (1000, 1000, 2000) of claim 21, wherein the read and write rights include at least one of the following: machine configurations, and operating modes, wherein operation of the first machine controller (2) or the second machine controller (6) in master control mode comprises the following steps: e5) fetching and overwriting include at least one of the following: machine configurations, and operating modes, of the first filling machine (1) and the second filling machine (4) by the machine controller (2, 6, 12) in master control mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention shall now be described in greater detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the attached Figures.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a filling line according to a first embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 2a shows a schematic sketch of a first embodiment of a data line for the filling line in FIG. 1.

[0048] FIG. 2b shows a schematic sketch of a second embodiment of a data line for the filling line in FIG. 1.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a filling line according to a second embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 4a shows a schematic sketch of a first embodiment of a data line for the filling line in FIG. 3.

[0051] FIG. 4b shows a schematic sketch of a second embodiment of a data line for the filling line in FIG. 3.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a method for operating a filling line as shown in FIG. 1.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a method for operating a filling line as shown in FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of a method for operating a filling line as shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Filling line 100 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a first filling machine 1 having a first machine controller 2, and a second filling machine 4. The second filling machine 4 includes a second machine controller 6. The first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4 are operable not only in cooperation with each other, but also independently of each other.

[0056] Filling line 100 also includes a data interface 8 by means of which the first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4 are connected to each other for control communication.

[0057] Filling line 100 preferably also comprises a further food processing machine in the form of a front-end device 10. Front-end device 10 is a separator, for example. Front-end device 10 preferably has its own third machine controller 12 and is thus operable not only in cooperation with the first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4, but also independently of them.

[0058] The first filling machine 1 is connected to data interface 8 via a first data line 14. The second filling machine 4 is connected to data interface 8 via a second data line 16. Data lines 14, 16 are wired lines, in particular, that allow reliable data transmission in any production environment. The first data line 14 and the second data line 16 are configured for real time data transmission, data lines 14, 16 being bus lines or Ethernet lines, for example. Data interface 8 is preferably provided, accordingly, either as a CAN bus or as an EtherCAT fieldbus.

[0059] The first filling machine 1 comprises a housing 17 and a feed hopper 18 that is preferably mounted pivotably on housing 17. The first machine controller 2 has a scanning function 19, and data interface 8 has a storage medium 21 for storing the assignment of control information S1. Scanning function 19 is configured to retrieve the information stored in storage medium 21.

[0060] The second filling machine 4 analogously comprises a housing 20 and a feed hopper 22 that is preferably mounted pivotably on housing 20. Preferably, the second machine controller 6 also has a scanning function that is not shown here.

[0061] The first filling machine 1 further comprises a control panel 24 and a display unit 26 assigned to control panel 24. The first control panel 24 and the first display unit 26 are in control communication with the first machine controller 2.

[0062] The second filling machine 4 likewise comprises a control panel 28 and a display unit 30 assigned to control panel 28. The second control panel 28 and the second display unit 30 are in control communication with the second machine controller 6.

[0063] Filling line 100 is configured, in particular, to produce stuffed foods made of a pasty mass in a co-extrusion process. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to filling lines for the co-extrusion process.

[0064] The first filling machine 1 has a first filling tube 32, and the second filling machine 4 has a second filling tube 34. The first filling machine 1 takes over the task of portioning, via the first filling tube 32, the filling material intended for the casing, and the second filling machine 4 takes over the task of portioning the filling material intended for the core. The filling material is a pasty mass. Front-end device 10 has a shaping module 36 that is connected to the first filling tube 32 and the second filling tube 34. Front-end device 10 is configured by means of shaping module 36 to bring together the filling material for the core and for the casing and to dispense a continuous strand, for example. Here, front-end device 10 is preferably embodied as a separator and is also configured to provide portions of the stuffed food, rather than a continuous strand, by separating the continuous strand.

[0065] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the control panel 24 of the first filling machine 1 is easy to access, whereas access to the control panel 28 of the second filling machine 4 is made more difficult by the path of filling tubes 32, 34 and by the placement of front-end device 10. This is where the invention comes in and enables remote access to the second machine controller 6 by the first machine controller 2.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 2a, the control communication between the first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4 via data interface 8 allows the first machine controller 2 and the second machine controller 6 to be operated in two different control modes by providing at least one control information S1, S2. The target control modes include a master control mode and a slave control mode. Operation in slave control mode causes read and write rights regarding recipe-relevant process parameters to be transferred to the machine controller operated in master control mode. The machine controller operated in master control mode is configured, for its part, to implement the transferred read and write rights so that one of the two machine controllers 2, 6 has access to the recipe-relevant process parameters of the two machine controllers 2, 6 and has the respective read and write rights. FIG. 2a shows data interface 8 with a total of four slots 40, 42, 44, 46. The first machine controller 2 is connected to the first slot 40. The second machine controller 6 is connected to the second slot 42. Data interface 8 is configured here to provide first control information S1 indicating target operation in master control mode. First control information S1 is assigned here to the first slot 40, such that data interface 8 provides control information S1 to the first machine controller 2 when the first machine controller 2 is connected to the first slot 40.

[0067] Data interface 8 is also configured to provide second control information S2 indicating target operation in slave control mode. The second control information S2 is assigned to the second slot 42, so data interface 8 is configured to provide the second control information S2 to the second machine controller 6 when the second machine controller 6 is connected to the second slot 42. The first control information S1 is provided here via a first data line 14, and the second control information S2 is provided via a data line 16.

[0068] At least the first slot 40 and the second slot 42 are in control communication with each other via a first signal connection 50. Recipe-relevant process parameters are provided in real time by the second machine controller 6 in slave control mode to the first machine controller 2 via the first data line 14, the second data line 16 and the first signal connection 50, not only before production begins, but also continuously during ongoing production.

[0069] After receiving first control information S1 indicating target operation in master control mode, the first machine controller 2 is preferably configured to retrieve the occupancy of other slots 42, 44, 46 by means of a scanning function 19 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0070] In preferred embodiments, the first machine controller 2 is also configured in master control mode to perform either condition monitoring of the second filling machine 4, or process monitoring of the entire filling line 100 (cf. FIG. 1). In this context, the first machine controller 2 is also configured, in particular, to receive and process diagnostic data and/or error messages from the second machine controller 6. Depending on these processed diagnostic data and/or error messages, the first machine controller 2 is configured to stop or switch off the second filling machine 4, or to adjust recipe-relevant process parameters if need be.

[0071] FIG. 2b shows a schematic sketch of the data transmission of the filling line shown in FIG. 1, according to a second embodiment. The same or similar units have identical reference signs in FIGS. 2a and 2b. Reference is made in full to the description of the embodiment in FIG. 2a, and only the differences between the embodiments are discussed in detail below.

[0072] The embodiments in FIGS. 2a and 2b differ in the way that second control information S2 is provided. In both embodiments, first control information S1 is provided in a known manner by the data interface 8 of the first machine controller 2. The first machine controller 2 according to FIG. 2b is then configured to provide second control information S2 to the second machine controller 6. Here, this second control information S2 indicates target operation in slave control mode. Second control information S2 can be provided by the first machine controller 2 not only via data lines 14, 16 and data interface 8, but also wirelessly via a Bluetooth connection or a radio link between the first machine controller 2 and the second machine controller 6.

[0073] Referring now to the embodiment of filling line 100 shown in FIG. 3, the same or similar components or units have identical reference signs in FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0074] Filling line 100 comprises, in a manner known from the prior art, a first filling machine 1 having a first machine controller 2, and a second filling machine 4. The second filling machine 4 includes a second machine controller 6. The first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4 are operable not only in cooperation with each other, but also independently of each other.

[0075] Filling line 100 also has a data interface 8 by means of which the first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4 are connected to each other for control communication.

[0076] Filling line 100 also comprises a further food processing machine in the form of an front-end device 10. Front-end device 10 is a separator, for example. Front-end device 10 preferably has its own third machine controller 12 and is thus operable not only in cooperation with the first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4, but also independently of them.

[0077] The first filling machine 1 is connected to data interface 8 via a first data line 14. The second filling machine 4 is connected to data interface 8 via a second data line 16. Data lines 14, 16 are wired lines, in particular, which allow reliable and robust transmission of data. The first data line 14 and the second data line 16 are configured for real time data transmission, data lines 14, 16 being bus lines or Ethernet lines, for example. Data interface 8 is preferably provided, accordingly, either as a CAN bus or as an EtherCAT fieldbus.

[0078] The first filling machine 1 comprises, in a manner known from the prior art, a housing 17 and a feed hopper 18 that is preferably mounted pivotably on housing 17. The first machine controller 2 has a scanning function 19, and data interface 8 has a storage medium 21 for storing the assignment of control information S1.

[0079] The second filling machine 4 analogously comprises a housing 20 and a feed hopper 22 that is preferably mounted pivotably on housing 20. Preferably, the second machine controller 6 also has a scanning function that is not shown here.

[0080] The first filling machine 1 further comprises a control panel 24 and a display unit 26 assigned to control panel 24. Control panel 24 and display unit 26 are in control communication with the first machine controller 2.

[0081] The second filling machine 4 likewise comprises a control panel 28 and a display unit 30 assigned to control panel 28. Control panel 28 and display unit 30 are is control communication with the second machine controller 6.

[0082] Filling line 100 is configured, in particular, to produce stuffed foods made of a pasty mass in a co-extrusion process.

[0083] The first filling machine 1 has a first filling tube 32, and the second filling machine 4 has a second filling tube 34. Front-end device 10 has a shaping module 36 which is connected to the first filling tube 32 and to the second filling tube 34 and which is configured to combine the pasty mass intended for the casing and the pasty mass intended for the core to form a stuffed food and to dispense a continuous strand, for example. Here, front-end device 10 is preferably embodied as a separator and is also configured to provide portions of the stuffed food, rather than a continuous strand, by separating the continuous strand.

[0084] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the control panel 24 of the first filling machine 1 is easy to access, whereas access to the control panel 28 of the second filling machine 4 is made more difficult by the path of filling tubes 32, 34 and by the placement of front-end device 10.

[0085] Data interface 8 is also configured to connect front-end device 10 for control communication to the first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4 when there is a third data line 38.

[0086] As shown in the schematic sketch of the data transmission of filling line 100 (cf. FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. 4a, the control communication connection between the first filling machine 1 and the second filling machine 4 via data interface 8 allows machine controllers 2, 4 to be operated in two different target control modes by providing at least one control information S1, S2. The target control modes include the master control mode and slave control mode described above.

[0087] FIG. 4a shows data interface 8 with a total of four slots 40, 42, 44, 46. The first machine controller 2 is connected to the first slot 40. The second machine controller 6 is connected to the second slot 42. The third machine controller 12 is connected to the third slot 44 via a third data line 38. Data interface 8 is configured here to provide first control information S1 indicating target operation in master control mode. First control information S1 is assigned here to the first slot 40, such that data interface 8 provides control information S1 to the first machine controller 2 when the first machine controller 2 is connected to the first slot 40.

[0088] Data interface 8 is also configured to provide second control information S2 indicating target operation in slave control mode. The second control information S2 is assigned to the second slot 42, so data interface 8 is configured to provide the second control information S2 to the second machine controller 6 when the second machine controller 6 is connected to the second slot 42. The first control information S1 is provided here via a first data line 14, and the second control information S2 is provided via a data line 16.

[0089] Furthermore, data interface 8 is configured to provide second control information S2i.e., the signal indicating target operation in slave control modealso to the third machine controller 12 of front-end device 10. The second control information S2 is also assigned to the third slot 44, in addition to the second slot 42, so data interface 8 likewise provide second control information S2 when the third machine controller 12 is connected to the third slot 44.

[0090] The first slot 40 and the second slot 42 are in control communication with each other via a first signal connection 50. The first slot 40 and the third slot 44 are in control communication with each other via a first signal connection 52. Recipe-relevant process parameters are provided in real time by the second machine controller 6 in slave control mode to the first machine controller 2 via data lines 14, 16, 38 and signal connections 50, 52. The parameters are preferably provided before production starts and also during ongoing operation.

[0091] After receiving first control information S1 indicating target operation in master control mode, the first machine controller 2 is preferably configured to retrieve the occupancy of other slots 42, 44, 46 by means of a scanning function 19.

[0092] In preferred embodiments, the first machine controller 2 is also configured in master control mode to perform either condition monitoring of the second filling machine 4 and/or of front-end device 10, or process monitoring of the entire filling line 100 (cf. FIG. 3). In this context, the first machine controller 2 is also configured, in particular, to receive and process diagnostic data and/or error messages from the second machine controller 6 and from the third machine controller 12. Depending on these processed diagnostic data and/or error messages, the first machine controller 2 is configured to stop or switch off the second filling machine 4 and front-end device 10, or to adjust recipe-relevant process parameters if need be.

[0093] FIG. 4b shows a schematic sketch of the data transmission of filling line 100 (cf. FIG. 3) according to a second embodiment. The same or similar units have identical reference signs in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Reference is made in full to the description of the embodiment in FIG. 4a, and only the differences between the embodiments are discussed in detail below.

[0094] The embodiments in FIGS. 4a and 4b differ in the way that second control information S2 is provided. In both embodiments, first control information S1 is provided by the data interface 8 of the first machine controller 2. The first machine controller 2 according to FIG. 4b is then configured to provide second control information S2 to the second machine controller 6 and to the third machine controller 12. Here, this second control information S2 indicates target operation in slave control mode. Second control information S2 can be provided by the first machine controller 2 not only via data lines 14, 16, 38 and data interface 8, but also wirelessly via a Bluetooth connection or a radio link between the first machine controller 2, the second machine controller 6 and the third machine controller 12.

[0095] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a method 1000 for operating a filling line as shown in FIG. 1. Method 1000 is preferably carried out by a computer program 60 running on a processor 70.

[0096] Method 1000 comprises the step of connecting, for control communication, a first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1) of a filling machine to a data interface in step 1100. Method 1000 further comprises the step of connecting, for control communication, a second machine controller 6 (cf. FIG. 1) of a second filling machine 4 to the data interface in step 1100. Here, the method further comprises the step of providing control information S1 to the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b) in step 1300. Following the providing of control information in step 1300, method 1000 comprises the step of initializing a first target control mode in the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1) in step 1410. Here, the first target control mode is a master control mode indicated by first control information S1. Method 1000 further comprises the step of initializing a second target control mode in the second machine controller 6 (cf. FIG. 1) in step 1420, according to the second control information S2 provided. Here, the second target control mode is a slave control mode. The second machine controller 6 (cf. FIG. 1) is configured in slave control mode to transfer read and write rights, in particular full read and write rights relating to recipe-relevant process parameters, to the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1) in step 1421. The first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1) is configured in master control mode to implement the transferred read and write rights in step 1411. This implementation includes, in particular, the visualization of the process parameters on a display unit 26, and setting them via a control panel 24 (cf. FIG. 1). The display function of the first machine controller 2 or its display unit 26 (cf. FIG. 1) is thus extended to include the implemented process parameters.

[0097] Method 1000 further comprises the step of reciprocally operating the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1) in master control mode in step 1510 and operating the second machine controller 6 (cf. FIG. 1) in slave control mode in step 1520. During operation in master control mode, the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1) is configured to overwrite recipe-relevant process parameters in step 1512 and to fetch them continuously during operation in step 1511.

[0098] FIG. 6 shows method 1000, which is a development of method 1000 as shown in FIG. 5. Method 1000 is preferably carried out by a computer program 60 running on a processor 70.

[0099] Method 1000 differs from method 1000 only by an extended functionality of the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1) in master control mode. Reference is made in this regard to the above description of the method shown in FIG. 5, and only the differences in the steps of the process are discussed.

[0100] Unlike the method shown in FIG. 5, the first machine controller 2 is configured here during operation in master control mode according to step 1510 to also perform continuous condition monitoring of the second filling machine and to perform diagnostic processes in step 1513 on the basis of the condition monitoring. On the basis of the diagnostic processes, the first machine controller 2 is also configured in master control mode to switch off or stop the second filling machine 4 in the event of a malfunction, or to adjust recipe-relevant process parameters if need be, in step 1514. The adjustment of recipe-relevant process parameters and stopping or switching off the machine if the need arises applies in the same manner to the operation of the first filling machine, which is likewise controlled by the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0101] FIG. 7 shows a method 2000 for operating a filling line as shown in FIG. 3. Method 2000 is preferably carried out by a computer program 60 running on a processor 70.

[0102] Method 2000 comprises the step of connecting, for control communication, a first machine controller 2 of a filling machine 1 to a data interface 8 (cf. FIG. 3) in step 2100. Method 2000 further comprises the step of connecting, for control communication, a second machine controller 6 of a second filling machine 4 to data interface 8 (cf. FIG. 3) in step 2100. Method 2000 also comprises the step of connecting, for control communication, a third machine controller 12 of a front-end device 10 to data interface 8 (cf. FIG. 3) in step 2600.

[0103] Here, method 2000 further comprises the step of providing control information S1 to the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIGS. 4a, 4b) in step 2300. Following the providing of control information S1 in step 2300, method 2000 comprises the step of initializing a first target control mode in the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 3) in step 2410. Here, the first target control mode is a master control mode indicated by first control information S1. Method 2000 further comprises the step of initializing a second target control mode in the second machine controller 6 in step 2420 and in the third machine controller 12 (cf. FIG. 3) in step 2430, according to the second control information S2 provided. Here, the second target control mode is a slave control mode. The second machine controller 6 and the third machine controller 12 (cf. FIG. 3) are configured in slave control mode to transfer read and write rights relating to recipe-relevant process parameters to the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 3) in step 2421 and step 2431. The first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 3) is configured in master control mode to implement the transferred read and write rights in step 2411. This implementation includes, in particular, the visualization of the process parameters on a display unit 26, and setting them via a control panel 24 as shown in FIG. 2. The description of the display unit 26 (cf. FIG. 3) cooperating with the first machine controller 2 is thus extended to include the implemented process parameters.

[0104] Method 2000 further comprises the step of reciprocally operating the first machine controller 2 in master control mode in step 2510, operating the second machine controller 6 in slave control mode in step 2520 and operating the third machine controller 12 (cf. FIG. 3) in slave control mode in step 2530. During operating in master control mode, the first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 3) is configured to overwrite recipe-relevant process parameters relating to the second machine controller in step 2512 and relating to the third machine controller in step 2532. The first machine controller 2 (cf. FIG. 3) is also configured to continuously fetch, during operation, recipe-relevant process parameters relating to the second machine controller in step 2511 and relating to the third machine controller in step 2531.

[0105] The embodiments described above are only descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various variations and modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present invention by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the present invention. The variations and modifications should all fall within the claimed scope defined by the claims of the present invention.