Production Parameter Course View as Part of a User Surface for Monitoring and/or Controlling a Packaging System

Abstract

A method is, inter alia, disclosed, which comprises the following: obtaining and/or holding available production parameter information of a packaging system, wherein the production parameter information for one or a plurality of predefined production parameters of the packaging system in each case represents a course recorded for a predefined previous time period; determining at least for each of the predefined production parameters a respective course expected for a predefined future time period at least partially based on the production parameter information; displaying or causing to display a production parameter course view as part of a graphic user surface, wherein a first section of the production parameter course view graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters recorded for the predefined previous time period and wherein a second section of the production parameter course view following the first section graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters expected for the predefined future time period.

Claims

1.A method comprising: at least one of obtaining or holding available production parameter information of a packaging system, wherein the production parameter information for one or a plurality of predefined production parameters of the packaging system in each case represents a course recorded for a predefined previous time period; determining at least for each of the predefined production parameters a respective course expected for a predefined future time period at least partially based on the production parameter information; displaying or causing to display a production parameter course view as part of a graphic user surface, wherein a first section of the production parameter course view graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters recorded for the predefined previous time period, wherein a second section of the production parameter course view following the first section graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters expected for the predefined future time period, and wherein, when the production parameter course view is displayed as part of the graphic user surface, the transition between the first and the second section of the production parameter course view is located at a position outside of the centre of the graphic user surface such that the centre of the graphic user surface does not contact die transition between die first and the second section of the production parameter course view or is not located thereon.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the production parameter information for each of the predefined production parameters in each case represents a plurality of production parameter values recorded during the predefined previous time period and a current production parameter value of the respective production parameter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the production parameter course view for each of the predefined production parameters in each case comprises a course curve associated with the respective production parameter and wherein each of the course curves in each case graphically represents the course recorded and expected for the production parameter associated with the respective course curve.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein each of the course curves at the transition between the first and the second section of the production parameter course view represents a current production parameter value of the production parameter associated with the respective course curve.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transition between the first and the second section of the production parameter course view is graphically highlighted in the production parameter course view.

6. (canceled)

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining for each of the predefined production parameters at least partially based on at least one of the course recorded for the respective production parameter or the course expected for the respective production parameter whether the respective production parameter can be associated with a predefined production event at a time in the predefined previous time period and in the predefined future time period.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises at least one of the following steps if the determining for one of the predefined production parameters results in the production parameter being associable with a predefined production event at a time in at least one of the predefined previous time period or the predefined future time period: highlighting or causing to highlight the time in the production parameter course view; displaying or causing to display a production event notification associated with the production event as part of the graphic user surface; providing or causing to provide user input interface as part of the graphic user surface to open a production event view of the graphic user surface associated with the production event.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the packaging system comprises a plurality of production lines, at least one of the predefined production parameters is a production parameter specific for a production line of the packaging system or is a production parameter averaged over a plurality of production lines.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing or causing to provide a user input interface as part of the graphic user surface to predefine or adjust at least one of the predefined production parameters, the predefined previous time period or the predefined future time period.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium on which a computer program is stored, the computer program comprising program instructions which cause a processor to perform or control the method according to claim 1, when the computer program is executed by the processor.

12. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform or control: obtaining or holding available production parameter information of a packaging system, wherein the production parameter information for one or a plurality of predefined production parameters of the packaging system in each case represents a course recorded for a predefined previous time period; determining at least for each of the predefined production parameters a respective course expected for a predefined future time period at least partially based on the production parameter information; displaying or causing to display a production parameter course view as part of a graphic user surface, wherein a first section of the production parameter course view graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters recorded for the predefined previous time period, wherein a second section of the production parameter course view following the first section graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters expected for the predefined future time period, and wherein, when the production parameter course view is displayed as part of the graphic user surface, the transition between the first and the second section of the production parameter course view is located at a position outside of the centre of the graphic user surface such that the centre of the graphic user surface does not contact the transition between the first and the second section of the production parameter course view or is not located thereon.

13. (canceled)

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the predefined previous time period or the predefined future time period is fixedly predefined such that they are unchangeably for a user.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the production parameter information for each of the predefined production parameters in each case represents a plurality of production parameter values recorded during the predefined previous time period and a current production parameter value of the respective production parameter.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the production parameter course view for each of the predefined production parameters in each case comprises a course curve associated with the respective production parameter and wherein each of the course curves in each case graphically represents the course recorded and expected for the production parameter associated with the respective course curve.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of the course curves at the transition between the first and the second section of the production parameter course view represents a current production parameter value of the production parameter associated with the respective course curve.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transition between the first and the second section of the production parameter course view is graphically highlighted in the production parameter course view.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further perform or control: determining for each of the predefined production parameters at least partially based on at least one of the course recorded for the respective production parameter or the course expected for the respective production parameter whether the respective production parameter can be associated with a predefined production event at a time in the predefined previous time period and in the predefined future time period.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further perform or control at least one of the following steps if the determining for one of the predefined production parameters results in the production parameter being associable with a predefined production event at a time in at least one of the predefined previous time period or the predefined future time period: highlighting or causing to highlight the time in the production parameter course view; displaying or causing to display a production event notification associated with the production event as part of the graphic user surface; providing or causing to provide a user input interface as part of the graphic user surface to open a production event view of the graphic user surface associated with the production event.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein if the packaging system comprises a plurality of production lines, at least one of the predefined production parameters is a production parameter specific for a production line of the packaging system or is a production parameter averaged over a plurality of production lines.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further perform or control providing or causing to provide a user input interface as part of the graphic user surface to predefine or adjust at least one of the predefined production parameters, the predefined previous time period or the predefined future time period.

23. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the predefined previous time period or the predefined future time period is fixedly predefined such that they are unchangeably for a user.

Description

[0083] In the drawings:

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention;

[0086] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention;

[0087] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary display of a graphic user surface with a production parameter course view; and

[0088] FIG. 5 shows exemplary embodiments of storage media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A NUMBER OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0089] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus according to the invention is represented as apparatus 1 in FIG. 1.

[0090] The apparatus 1 comprises by way of example a processor 10 and connected to the processor 10 a first memory as a program and data memory 11, a second memory as a main memory 12 and a communication interface 13 and a graphic user interface 14.

[0091] A processor should for example be understood to be a microprocessor, a microcontrol unit, a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). It should be understood that the apparatus 1 can also comprise a plurality of processors 10.

[0092] Processor 10 runs program instructions that are stored in the program memory 11 and stores for example interim results or the like in the main memory 12. The program memory 11 contains for example program instructions of a computer program according to the invention which comprises program instructions which cause the processor 10 to perform and/or control the method according to the invention (for example the method according to the flow chart 3 shown in FIG. 3) when the processor 10 execute these program instructions stored in the program memory 11.

[0093] Program memory 11 for example also contains the operating system of the apparatus which, on starting the apparatus, is, at least in some cases, loaded into the main memory 12 and executed by the processor 10. In particular, upon starting apparatus, at least a part of the core of the operating system is loaded in the main memory 12 and executed by the processor 10.

[0094] An example of an operating system is a Windows, UNIX, Linux, Android, Apple iOS and/or Mac OS operating system. In particular, the operating system makes it possible to use the portable apparatus for data processing. For example, it administers tools such as a main memory and a program memory, provides fundamental functions among other things through programming interfaces with other computer programs and controls the executing of computer programs.

[0095] A program memory is for example a non-volatile memory such as a flash drive, a magnetic memory, an EEPROM memory (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) and/or an optical memory. A main memory is for example a volatile or non-volatile memory, in particular a memory with random-access (RAM) such as a static RAM memory (SRAM), a dynamic RAM memory (DRAM), a ferroelectric RAM memory (FeRAM) and/or a magnetic RAM memory (MRAM).

[0096] The main memory 12 and the program memory 11 can also be formed as one memory. Alternatively, the main memory 12 and/or the program memory 11 can each be formed by a plurality of memories. Furthermore, the main memory 12 and/or the program memory 11 can also be part of the processor 10.

[0097] Processor 10 controls the communication interface 13. A communication interface can for example receive information according to a communication technique via a communication path and/or a communication connection and provide it to the processor 10 and/or receive information from the processor 10 and send it according to a communication technique via a communication path and/or a communication connection. Examples of such communication techniques are communication networks and their specifications such as Ethernet networks and/or WLAN networks and/or real-time Ethernet networks such as EtherCAT and/or mobile communication networks such as GSM, UMTS and/or LTE networks. An example of a communication interface is, accordingly, a network adapter such as an Ethernet and/or WLAN and/or EtherCAT and/or a mobile communication network adapter.

[0098] Furthermore, processor 10 controls the graphic user interface 14. For example, the graphic user interface 14 is configured to display a graphic user surface (e.g. a graphic user surface of a computer program executed by the processor 10). For example, the graphic user interface 14 is a screen such as a touch-sensitive screen.

[0099] The components 10 to 14 of the apparatus 1 are for example connected with one another for communication and/or operating purposes via one or a plurality of bus systems (for example one or a plurality of serial and/or parallel bus connections).

[0100] It is understood that, in addition to the components 10 to 14, the apparatus 1 can comprise further components such as for example input and output means (e.g. a keyboard and/or a mouse).

[0101] The apparatus 1 can for example be formed as a portable apparatus (e.g. as a tablet computer).

[0102] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a system 2 according to the invention with a packaging system 20 and an apparatus 1, which is fastened to a holder of the packaging system 20, and can communicate (e.g. receive and/or send information such as production parameter information) via a communication connection 21 with the packaging system 20 and/or components of the packaging system 20. It is assumed below that the apparatus 1 corresponds to the apparatus 1 from FIG. 1.

[0103] The packaging system 20 is for example a beverage filling system and/or a part of a beverage filling system. A large number of different components are frequently used in such systems, for example heating systems (for example heating systems for ultra-high heating of the filled product), filling machines, applicators for attaching closures and/or beverage straws, switch points, case packers and cartoners.

[0104] At least some of the components of the packaging system 20 are configured to record at least one production parameter value of a production parameter of the packaging system 20 and to send a representation of the at least one recorded production parameter value as production parameter information to the apparatus 1 via the communication connection 21.

[0105] In this case, a production parameter of the packaging system 20 is for example understood as a parameter characteristic of the status of the packaging system 20 and/or a production process executed by the packaging system 20. Examples of such production parameters are a filling quantity per package, a temperature (e.g. a temperature of the filling material), a fill status or a fill level (e.g. a fill status of a packaging material magazine of the packaging system or a fill level of a product tank such as a filling material tank of the packaging system), a total system performance of the packaging system 20 and/or a performance of one or a plurality of components of the packaging system 20 (e.g. a number of packages per hour processed by the packaging system and/or the component(s)), a pressure (e.g. the pressure of a pressurised air supply of the packaging system 20 and/or a component of the packaging system 20), a flow (e.g. the flow of a cooling fluid in a cooling device of the packaging system 20), a time specification (e.g. an indication of the remaining time of an ongoing process such as a cleaning process of the packaging system 20 and/or a component of the packaging system 20), and/or a volume (e.g. the volume of the filling material remaining in a product tank such as a filling material tank of the packaging system).

[0106] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram 3 with steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. In the following, it is assumed by way of example that the steps 301 to 307 of the flow chart 3 are performed by the apparatus 1, which is part of the system 2 (see FIG. 2).

[0107] In a step 301, production parameter information of the packaging system 20 is obtained at the apparatus 1 and/or held available by the apparatus 1, wherein the production parameter information for one or a plurality of predefined production parameters of the packaging system 20 in each case represents a course recorded for a predefined previous time period.

[0108] For example, the production parameter information of the packaging system 20 is received in step 301 at least partially by the communication interface 13 via the communication 21 from the packaging system. Alternatively or additionally, the production parameter information of the packaging system 20 can be stored at least partially in program memory 11 of the apparatus 1.

[0109] For example, production parameter information, which represents in each case production parameter values most recently recorded by the component(s) of the packaging system, is received by the communication interface 13 via the communication connection 21 and then stored in a program memory 11 continuously and/or at regular or irregular intervals. Accordingly, the production parameter information for each of the predefined production parameters for example represents a plurality of production parameter values of the respective production parameter recorded during the predefined previous time period.

[0110] In a step 302, a respective course expected for a predefined future time period is determined at least for each of the predefined production parameters at least partially based on the production parameter information.

[0111] The determination in step 302 can take place according to a predefined algorithm. For example, the production parameter information serves as input values of the algorithm. Accordingly, an expected course of a production parameter should for example be understood as a course of the respective production parameter which is obtained as a result of the algorithm. Examples of such an algorithm are, as disclosed above, regression analysis methods (e.g. linear regression methods), self-learning algorithms (e.g. in the form of an artificial neural network or a support vector machine) and extrapolation algorithms (e.g. linear extrapolation).

[0112] In a step 303, a production parameter course view is displayed as part of a graphic user surface or the display of the production parameter course view is caused, wherein a first section of the production parameter course view graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters recorded for the predefined previous time period and wherein a second section of the production parameter course view following the first section graphically represents the courses of the predefined production parameters expected for the predefined future time period.

[0113] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary display of a graphic user surface 4 with such a production parameter course view 40. The graphic user surface is for example a user surface of a computer program stored in program memory 11 and executed by the processor 10 for monitoring and/or controlling the packaging system 20.

[0114] As emerges from FIG. 4, the production parameter course view 40 is for example displayed in a part of the graphic user surface 4 below a task or status list 41, which is also part of the user surface 4.

[0115] The production parameter course view 40 comprises a first section 401 and a second section 402. The first section 401 of the production parameter course view comprises for example a course diagram which represents the recorded courses 403-405 of the predefined production parameters in the predefined previous time period; and the second section of the production parameter course view comprises for example a course diagram which represents the expected courses 406-408 of the predefined production parameters in the predefined future time period. For example, the different courses are represented in the course diagrams as overlapping course curves (see 403-408) with a common X-axis 409.

[0116] In the production parameter course view, a recorded and expected course of the system performance in package per hour is for example represented by the course curves 403 and 406, a recorded and expected course of a fill status of a packaging material magazine by the course curves 404 and 407 and a recorded and expected course of the fill quantity per package by the course curves 405 and 408.

[0117] The transition between the first section 401 and the second section 402 of the production parameter course view 40 is for example highlighted in FIG. 4 by a line 410 and the label 10:00, which displays the current time.

[0118] Furthermore, the user surface 4 can provide one or a plurality of user input interfaces, for example to predefine and/or adjust the predefined production parameters, the predefined previous time period and/or the predefined future time period. Alternatively or additionally, the predefined production parameters, the predefined previous time period and/or the predefined future time period can be at least partially fixedly predefined (i.e. be unchangeably predefined for a user). An example of a user input interface is an element of the user surface 4 that can be activated and/or manipulated by a user input (e.g. by a touch input and/or a mouse input) such as a button, a control box or a slide control.

[0119] A respective representation of the predefined production parameters, the predefined previous time period and/or the predefined future time period is for example stored in a memory (e.g. in program memory 11 or main memory 12).

[0120] In an optional step 304, it is determined for each of the predefined production parameters at least partially based on the course recorded for the respective production parameter and/or the course expected for the respective production parameter whether the respective production parameter is associable with a predefined production event at a time in the predefined previous time period and in the predefined future time period.

[0121] As disclosed above, a production event should for example be understood as an event that necessitates an intervention of a user of the packaging system 20. Examples of such production events are for example a refill event (e.g. exhausting a packaging material reservoir in a packaging material magazine of the packaging system), a soiling or maintenance event (e.g. soiling or wear of a component of the packaging system), a production ending event (e.g. when a predefined number of packages was packaged and/or filled by the packaging system) and/or a fault event (e.g. exceeding or falling short of the temperature of a filling material).

[0122] Determining whether a production parameter is associable with a production event can for example take place according to predefined rules. The predefined rules can for example predefine when the determination should result in that a production parameter is associable with a predefined production event at a time in the predefined previous time period and in the predefined future time period. For example, the rules can predefine threshold values for one or a plurality of production parameters such that when it emerges from the recorded and/or expected course of a production parameter that a production parameter of the production parameter exceeds or falls below a threshold value predefined for this production parameter at a time, it should be determined that the production parameter is associable with a predefined production event at this time. It is for example assumed below that the rules predefine that, provided a fill status of a packaging material in a packaging material magazine of the packaging system falls below a threshold value of 10%, it should be determined that this production parameter is associable with a refill event.

[0123] When the determination in step 304 at least for one of the predefined production parameters results in the production parameter being associable with a predefined production event at a time in the predefined previous time period and/or in the predefined future time period, the method is for example continued with one or a plurality of optional steps 305 to 307. Otherwise, the method is for example ended.

[0124] In the step 305, the time of the production event is highlighted or caused to be highlighted in the production parameter course view.

[0125] The highlighting of the time in the production parameter course view can for example take place by way of graphic highlighting such as for example marking (e.g. a line and/or coloured highlighting and/or a symbol and/or a label). The course curve associated with the production parameter can for example also be graphically highlighted by a marking (e.g. coloured highlighting and/or a change of the line sharpness of the course curve) in the production parameter course view.

[0126] In the production parameter course view shown in FIG. 4, the time 10:30, at which the fill status of the packaging material magazine falls below the threshold value of 10%, is highlighted by the line 411 and the label 10:30.

[0127] In the step 306, a production event notification associated with the production event is displayed as part of the graphic user surface or the display of the production event notification is caused.

[0128] The production event notification contains for example information associated with the production event notification and/or instructions for the user. For example, information associated with a production event notification can display a time of a production event, a type of a production event (e.g. refill event, maintenance or cleaning event and/or fault event) and/or a (or a plurality) of production parameter(s) that can be associated with the production event The instructions associated with a production event notification can for example, when it is a fault event, comprise instructions to fix or avoid the fault event or, when it is a refill event, instructions to refill or, when it is a maintenance or cleaning event, instructions to maintain or clean.

[0129] In the production parameter course view shown in FIG. 4, shading of the time period, in which the fill status of the packaging material magazine is below the threshold value of 10%, is an example of such a production event notification and the displayed notification: 10% fill status error ABC:Fill status lowrefill represented, wherein Error ABC for example is an error code.

[0130] In the step 306, a user input interface is provided or is caused to be provided as part of the graphic user surface 4 to open a production event view of the graphic user surface 4 associated with the production event The production event view contains for example information associated with the production event notification and/or instructions for the user.

[0131] FIG. 5 shows exemplary embodiments of storage media on which an exemplary embodiment of a computer program according to the invention can be stored. The storage medium can for example be a magnetic, electric, optic and/or other type of storage medium. The storage medium can for example be part of a processor (e.g. processor 10 of the portable apparatus 1 from FIG. 1), for example a (non-volatile or volatile) program memory of the processor or a part of this. Exemplary embodiments of a storage medium are a flash memory 500, an SSD hard drive 501, a magnetic hard drive 502, a memory card 503, a memory stick 504 (for example a USB stick), a CD-ROM or DVD 505 or a diskette 506.

[0132] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described in this specification should also be understood as being disclosed in all combinations with each other. In particular, the description of a feature included by an embodiment, provided the opposite is not explicitly explained, should also not be understood in the present case as the feature being necessary or essential for the function of the exemplary embodiment. The sequence of the method steps in the individual flow diagrams outlined in this specification is not absolutely necessary, alternative sequences of the method steps are conceivable, unless otherwise indicated. The method steps can be implemented in a different manner, thus an implementation in software (by program instructions), hardware or a combination of the two in order to implement the method steps is conceivable.

[0133] Terms used in the claims such as comprise, have, contain, include and the like do not exclude additional elements or steps. The wording at least partially includes both the case of partially and also the case of fully. The wording and/or should be understood as both the alternative and the combination being disclosed, i.e. A and/or B means (A) or (B) or (A and B). A plurality of units, individuals or the like means multiple units, individuals or the like in the context of this specification. The use of the indefinite article does not exclude a plurality. An individual device can perform the functions of a plurality of units or devices mentioned in the claims. Reference numerals indicated in the claims should not be considered as limitations of the means and steps used.