SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SYSTEM FOR TREATING CONTAINERS

Abstract

Disclosed to a method for operating a system for treating a plurality of containers, with the steps: providing at least one container which has an ID, by which the container can be uniquely identified, wherein an identifier can be assigned to the ID, which identifier is stored in a memory device which is connected or can be connected to the system at least temporarily via a public network in order to communicate data; treating the container with a treatment apparatus of the system, collecting at least one data value with respect to the container and/or with respect to at least one treatment step of the container; and providing the at least one data value for transmission and/or storage in the memory device.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14: A method for operating a system for treating a plurality of containers having the steps: providing at least one container which has an ID by which the container can be uniquely identified, wherein an identifier can be assigned to the ID, which identifier is stored in at least one memory device which is cloud-based and/or at least temporarily connected or connectable via a public network to the system for data communication; treating the container with at least one treatment apparatus of the system, transporting the container at least temporarily in the treatment apparatus with at least one transport device; collecting at least one data value with respect to the container and/or with respect to at least one treatment step of the container; and providing the at least one data value for transmission and/or storage in the memory device; producing an assignment between the data value and the respective identifier of the container.

15: The method according to claim 14, wherein an identifier generating device of the system provides the identifier which is suitable and intended for a unique identification of a container.

16: The method according to claim 14, wherein the containers are provided with the ID during their production and/or temporal before and/or during a forming process from a plastic preform to the plastic container.

17: The method according to claim 14, wherein the ID is detected at least once before the container is discharged from the treatment apparatus.

18: The method according to claim 14, wherein the data value is selected from a group containing information relating to the container, to a measured value, to a treatment parameter, to a process data value, to a time stamp, to a production date, to a product for the container, to the treatment apparatus, to machine data, to an outer packaging, to the transport device, to a distribution modality, to a distribution location and similar.

19: The method according to claim 14, wherein at least two data values of different kind are collected, which are assignable to the same ID and/or the same identifier and which are collected by at least two different treatment apparatuses.

20: A system for treating a plurality of containers, having at least one treatment apparatus which is configured for carrying out at least one treatment step on the containers, wherein the treatment apparatus has at least one data collection device which is configured for data collection of at least one data value with respect to the container and/or with respect to at least one treatment step, wherein the system has at least one detection device for detecting an ID of the containers, by means of which the containers can each be uniquely identified, wherein the system has a communication device which is configured to at least temporarily establish a communication connection with at least one memory device which is cloud-based and/or is connected or connectable to the system at least temporarily via a public network for data communication, wherein an identifier which can be uniquely assigned to the ID is stored and/or can be stored in the memory device, wherein the treatment apparatus is configured, suitable and intended to provide the at least one data value to the communication device for transmission to and/or for storage in the memory device.

21: The system according to claim 20, wherein a data transmission device is provided which collects the data values of at least two treatment apparatuses to be transmitted to the memory device before they are transmitted to the memory device.

22: The system according to claim 20, wherein the communication device has an integration layer, wherein a communication connection between the treatment apparatus and the memory device can be established exclusively via the integration layer.

23: The system according to claim 20, wherein the communication device has at least one wired communication bus for transmitting data, via which communication of the treatment apparatus with the memory device takes place.

24: The system according to claim 20, wherein the treatment apparatus is selected from a group comprising a heating apparatus for heating a preform, a forming apparatus for forming a plastic preform into a plastic bottle, a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing a container, a production apparatus for producing a glass bottle, a filling apparatus for filling a container with a product, an inspection device for inspecting a plastic preform or bottle, a labeling apparatus for labeling a container, a sealing apparatus for sealing a container, a control device, a packaging device, a direct printing device for printing a container, an assembling apparatus for assembling a plurality of containers into an assembly, a destroying apparatus for destroying the container, and similar.

25: The system according to claim 20, wherein the treatment apparatus is configured to receive data relating to a container to be treated, transmitted by the communication device from the memory device, and to make a change in at least one setting and/or size and/or at least one process parameter relating to the treatment of the container to be treated.

26: A system of a system for treating a plurality of containers as claimed in claim 20, and at least one public network-accessible and/or cloud-based storage device.

Description

[0107] Further advantages and embodiments can be seen in the accompanying drawings:

[0108] In the drawings:

[0109] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to the invention for treating containers in accordance with a first embodiment; and

[0110] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to the invention for treating containers in accordance with a second embodiment.

[0111] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system 1 according to the invention for treating containers 10 in accordance with a first embodiment and describes the technical procedure for individualizing a container by marking this container, in this case a bottle.

[0112] The reference sign IDG indicates an ID generator, which is an identifier generating device responsible for providing unique identifiers (IDs). A variety of methods and solutions exist for generating (and also applying) identifiers or IDs.

[0113] The ID generator IDG is (here) a script that is installed directly on the individualization device, here designed as a printing device 50, the ID printer unit, or runs on an external system. There must be at least one (communication) connection between the ID printer unit or the individualization device as hardware and the identifier generating device, in this case the ID generator IDG, as software or software service.

[0114] The reference sign IDP indicate an ID pool (or identifier pool), which here provides the ID generator (generally the identifier generating device) with a collection (pool) of identifiers (IDs) (indicated by arrow P0). The IDs are subject to an algorithm and rules, so that by coding from the ID to, for example, the production date can be concluded. Each ID is unique.

[0115] The generation of IDs is indicated in FIG. 1 by reference sign 42. After generation, the ID is communicated here to the individualization device, in this case the ID printer unit 50, via an interface. The arrow P1 indicates the method step in which the ID (or an identification means assigned to this identifier) is applied to the container, in this case a bottle. The individualization device, in this case the ID printer unit, is responsible for applying the ID (or an identification means assigned to this identifier) to the bottle. The reference sign 12 indicates an identification means which is arranged on the bottle 12. This is, for example, a (printed) QR code.

[0116] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a plastic preform is provided and fed from the transport device 20 to a heating apparatus 30 (so-called preform heater), heated therein and subsequently expanded in a blow molding apparatus, the arrangement of which within the system 1 is indicated by the reference sign 40, to form a (plastic) bottle 10. This bottle 10 is provided with an identification means 12 by the individualization device, in this case the printing device 50 (indicated by the arrow P2), resulting in a bottle having an identification means 12.

[0117] The bottle 10 begins its journey through the line (of the system 1). For this purpose, the bottle 10 can be transported by at least one transport device from a treatment apparatus to the next, as well as within the treatment apparatus(es). Shown here as treatment apparatuses (in a sequence downstream of the direction of transport of the bottle) are an inspection apparatus 60, a filling apparatus 70 for filling the bottle 10 with a product, a closing apparatus 80, a drying apparatus 110, a labeling apparatus 120, and a packaging device 130 for packaging the bottle 10.

[0118] In each case, the reference sign 2 indicates a SPS (machine control) of a treatment apparatus and the reference sign 4 indicates a human-machine interface (so-called HMI, Human Machine Interface).

[0119] The reference signs 85, 90 each indicate a control device (for example, at the end of the line and arranged between the closing device 80 and the drying device 110) which checks, for example, a fill level in the bottle and/or a proper arrangement of the closure on the bottle 10 and/or a retaining ring and/or proper labeling and/or packaging of the bottle 10 or further production data. These control devices 90 (here a so-called checkmat) in a line or in a system 1 serve as milestones and preferably read the IDs or record the identification means of the containers. This way, it is known where the bottle is currently located.

[0120] In addition, each machine or treatment apparatus 60, 70, 80, 85, 110, 120, 130, 90 of the system 1 shall be able to deposit data on an ID or identification means of a bottle.

[0121] In one embodiment, a data transmission device 96, the so-called ready kit is responsible for aggregating the data (which are collected in particular from several treatment apparatuses, e.g., checkmat 85, 90, a closing device 80 (capper) and/or a drying device 110 (dryer) and/or a labeling device 120 (labeler) and/or a packaging device 130 (packager). Therefore, the collected data of a system 1 in this embodiment is available in the data transmission device (here in the ready kit) at the earliest. The data transmission device 96 (the ready kit) relays the data to a cloud 150. In this embodiment, a detection device 94 for identifying a bottle (bottle identifier) is preferably provided, which preferably detects the identification means 12 or reads the ID thereby (characterized by reference sign 92, arrow P5). In this embodiment, the detection device can establish a (communication) connection to the data transmission device 96 (see arrow P4), via which the data aggregated by the data transmission device 96 can be transmitted to the detection device, which in turn, in the embodiment shown here, can assign this data to an identifier via the detected identification means 12 and writes the data together with the associated identifier or a quantity characteristic thereof here to a cloud 150 as a memory device (illustrated by arrows P6 and P7).

[0122] It is possible that two memory devices 150 and 152, which are in particular (at least partially and preferably completely) separate from one another, are present, which can each be provided, for example, as a cloud. There may be a data communication connection between these two clouds. For example, one of the two memory devices may be an in-house memory device, while preferably one of the memory devices is accessible (only) via a public network (at least partially outside the in-house network).

[0123] The two (particularly cloud-based) memory devices 150 and 152 may be externally closed systems. Preferably, a data communication connection for exchanging data and/or messages between these two memory devices 150 and 152 is established (Bridged MQTT broker), which supports data exchange based on the MQTT protocol.

[0124] The arrow P8 indicates a communication connection between the data transmission device 96 (the ready kit) and the memory device 152, which in this case is a cloud-based memory device (so-called Krones PET cloud). Preferably, the communication between the data transmission device 96 and the cloud-based memory device (Syskron cloud) is based on the MQTT protocol.

[0125] Furthermore preferably in the embodiment described herein, a communication connection is established between the detection device 94 (Bottle identifier) and the data transmission device 96, which particularly preferably supports and/or is arranged for communication based on the MQTT protocol. Thus, it is possible for the detection device 94 (Bottle identifier) to be provided with the transmitted data of each machine or treatment apparatus. Subsequently, the detection device 94 (Bottle identifier), at which the bottle is currently located, aggregates the data (from the treatment apparatuses) and writes them to the memory device 152 (Krones PET cloud).

[0126] A (communication) connection P8, based in particular on the MQTT protocol, between the data transmission device 96 and the memory device 152 (Krones PET cloud) preferably enables synchronization of the data. Measures to be derived from this, e.g. the reversal of a bottle, can be instructed by the memory device 152 (Krones PET cloud), communicated to the data transmission device 96 and implemented by the machine control.

[0127] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a system 1 according to the invention for treating containers in accordance with a first embodiment. In this context, (mutually) identical reference signs identify identically acting devices or elements.

[0128] In contrast to FIG. 1, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a communication device 140 is provided which has a common bus system or common bus for data communication for all treatment apparatuses as well as detection devices. The common bus serves as an integration layer between the memory device 152 (Krones PET cloud) and the in particular digitally connected sensor technology (Cyber physical systems, CPS) (of the individual treatment apparatuses).

[0129] In the embodiment shown herein, the ID pool IDP and the identifier generating device IDG (ID generator) are located as service repositories within the cloud or the memory device 152. Furthermore, an ID generator application IDA (ID Generator App) is provided, which represents a (corresponding) service instance.

[0130] In the embodiment shown here, communication no longer takes place via the detour of a data transmission device 96, but sensor values and other data are preferably transmitted directly from the machine or the individual treatment apparatuses to the memory device (cloud). Here, too, MQTT can be used as the protocol. Communication between the memory device 152 (Krones PET cloud) and the memory device 150 (Syskron cloud) can be achieved via a so-called bridging of the MQTT brokers as a so-called MQTT bridge.

[0131] The reference sign P20 indicates an arrow illustrating a data exchange between the printing device 50 (ID printer unit) and the ID generator application IDA, in which the printing device 50 makes a request to the ID generator application IDA to transmit an identifier (Request: ID). The arrow P22 illustrates a transmission of an identifier from the ID generator application IDA to the printing device 50 (Response: ID).

[0132] Arrows P24, P26 respectively indicate a data transmission from a treatment apparatus, in this case inspection apparatus 60 and a control apparatus (Checkmat), in which an update of the status of the bottle 10 is transmitted to the integration layer 140. Thus, the inspection apparatus 60 transmits the updated status of the container that the bottle is OK and the preform is inflated (transmitting the message: Read, update status=bottle OK, preform inflated). The control apparatus 90 transmits to the integration layer 140 the now current state of the container that the bottle is in a filled and sealed state (transmission of the message: Read, update status=bottle OK, filled and sealed).

[0133] Finally, the arrow P29 indicates a data communication between the labeling apparatus 120 and the integration layer 140, in which the labeling apparatus transmits a request to the integration layer 140 asking for transmission of the ID and/or data values (Request: ID, data). Finally, P30 indicates a transmission of the response message (Response: ID, data), in which data values associated with an identifier are transmitted to the labeling apparatus.

[0134] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided that they are novel over the prior art individually or in combination. It is also pointed out that features which can be advantageous in themselves are also described in the individual figures. The person skilled in the art will immediately recognize that a particular feature described in a figure can be advantageous even without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual or in different figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0135] 1 system [0136] 10 container [0137] 20 transport device [0138] 42 identifier [0139] 50 printing device [0140] 70 filling device [0141] 80 closing device [0142] 85 checkmat [0143] 90 checkmat [0144] 94 detection device [0145] 96 data transmission device, ready kit [0146] 110 drying device [0147] 120 labeling device [0148] 130 packaging device [0149] 140 communication device, data communication bus [0150] 150 memory device [0151] 152 memory device [0152] IDG identifier generating device, ID generator [0153] IDP ID pool [0154] P1-P39 arrows