PRODUCTION PLANT FOR PRODUCING A MULTIPLICITY OF ARTICLES, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND/OR MONITORING THE PRODUCTION PLANT

Abstract

A method for controlling and/or monitoring a production plant for producing a multiplicity of articles, wherein the production plant has a machine tool; a machine tool part which interacts with the machine tool in order to produce an article; an RFID transponder connected to the machine tool part; two RFID reading devices which are arranged at a distance from one another and from the machine tool; and a control device which is connected to the RFID reading devices via data lines. The method includes determining a first location of the machine tool part at a first time with the first RFID reading device and/or with the second RFID reading device; and determining a second location of the machine tool part at a second time, which temporally follows the first time, with the first RFID reading device and/or with the second RFID reading device; and outputting at least one control signal with the control device on the basis of the first location and the second location.

Claims

1. A method for controlling and/or monitoring a production plant for producing a multiplicity of articles, wherein the production plant has the following: at least one machine tool; at least one machine tool part which interacts with the machine tool for producing an article; at least one RFID transponder which is connected to the machine tool part; at least two RFID reading devices which are arranged at a distance from one another and from the machine tool; and at least one control device which is connected to the RFID reading devices via data lines, wherein the method has the following method steps of: determining a first location of the machine tool part at a first time by means of the first RFID reading device and/or by means of the second RFID reading device; determining a second location of the machine tool part at a second time, which temporally follows the first time, by means of the first RFID reading device and/or by means of the second RFID reading device; and outputting at least one control signal by means of the control device on the basis of the first location and the second location.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control signal is additionally output on the basis of a time difference between the first time and the second time.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the production plant has at least two machine tool parts which are each connected to an RFID transponder and interact with the machine tool for producing an article, characterized by the following features: determining the locations of the machine tool parts at a first time by means of the first RFID reading device and/or by means of the second RFID reading device; determining the locations of the machine tool parts at a second time, which temporally follows the first time, by means of the first RFID reading device and/or by means of the second RFID reading device; and outputting at least one control signal by means of the control device on the basis of the locations of the machine tool parts at the first time and at the second time.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein information which is specific to the machine tool part and can be read by the RFID reading devices is stored on the RFID transponders, characterized in that the at least one control signal is output by means of the control device on the basis of the information specific to the machine tool part.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third RFID reading device is arranged inside the machine tool and/or adjacent to the machine tool, wherein at least one control signal is output by means of the control device on the basis of information determined by means of the third RFID reading device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the following features: determining a direction of movement of at least one machine tool part on the basis of its first location and its second location by means of the control device; and outputting at least one control signal on the basis of the direction of movement of the at least one machine tool part.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the following features: determining a speed of movement of at least one machine tool part on the basis of its first location, its second location and a time difference between the first time and the second time by means of the control device; and outputting at least one control signal on the basis of the speed of movement of the at least one machine tool part.

8. A production plant for producing a multiplicity of articles, wherein the production plant has the following: at least one machine tool; at least one machine tool part which interacts with the machine tool for producing an article; at least one RFID transponder which is connected to the machine tool part; at least two RFID reading devices which are arranged at a distance from one another and from the machine tool; and at least one control device which is connected to the RFID reading devices via data lines, wherein the production plant is wherein that the production plant carries out a method as claimed in claim 1.

9. The production plant as claimed in claim 8, wherein the production plant has at least two machine tool parts which interact with the machine tool for producing an article, and at least two RFID transponders which are each connected to a machine tool part, wherein the production plant is wherein that the production plant carries out a method as claimed in claim 1.

10. The production plant as claimed in claim 8, wherein information which is specific to the machine tool part and can be read by the RFID reading devices is stored on the RFID transponders, wherein the production plant is characterized in that the production plant carries out a method as claimed in claim 1.

11. The production plant as claimed in claim 8, wherein a third RFID reading device is arranged inside the machine tool and/or adjacent to the machine tool, wherein the production plant is characterized in that the production plant carries out a method as claimed in claim 1.

12. The production plant as claimed in claim 9, wherein information which is specific to the machine tool part and can be read by the RFID reading devices is stored on the RFID transponders, wherein the production plant is characterized in that the production plant carries out a method as claimed in claim 1.

13. The production plant as claimed in claim 9, wherein a third RFID reading device is arranged inside the machine tool and/or adjacent to the machine tool, wherein the production plant is characterized in that the production plant carries out a method as claimed in claim 1.

14. The production plant as claimed in claim 10, wherein a third RFID reading device is arranged inside the machine tool and/or adjacent to the machine tool, wherein the production plant is characterized in that the production plant carries out a method as claimed in claim 1.

15. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the production plant has at least two machine tool parts which are each connected to an RFID transponder and interact with the machine tool for producing an article, characterized by the following features: determining the locations of the machine tool parts at a first time by means of the first RFID reading device and/or by means of the second RFID reading device; determining the locations of the machine tool parts at a second time, which temporally follows the first time, by means of the first RFID reading device and/or by means of the second RFID reading device; and outputting at least one control signal by means of the control device on the basis of the locations of the machine tool parts at the first time and at the second time.

16. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein information which is specific to the machine tool part and can be read by the RFID reading devices is stored on the RFID transponders, characterized in that the at least one control signal is output by means of the control device on the basis of the information specific to the machine tool part.

17. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein information which is specific to the machine tool part and can be read by the RFID reading devices is stored on the RFID transponders, characterized in that the at least one control signal is output by means of the control device on the basis of the information specific to the machine tool part.

18. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a third RFID reading device is arranged inside the machine tool and/or adjacent to the machine tool, wherein at least one control signal is output by means of the control device on the basis of information determined by means of the third RFID reading device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a third RFID reading device is arranged inside the machine tool and/or adjacent to the machine tool, wherein at least one control signal is output by means of the control device on the basis of information determined by means of the third RFID reading device.

20. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein a third RFID reading device is arranged inside the machine tool and/or adjacent to the machine tool, wherein at least one control signal is output by means of the control device on the basis of information determined by means of the third RFID reading device.

Description

[0036] Further advantages, details and features of the invention emerge below from the exemplary embodiments explained. In the drawings, in detail:

[0037] FIG. 1: shows a production plant according to the invention in a first state;

[0038] FIG. 2: shows the production plant illustrated in FIG. 1 in a second state;

[0039] FIG. 3: shows the production plant illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a third state; and

[0040] FIG. 4: shows the production plant illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 in a fourth state.

[0041] In the description which now follows, identical reference signs denote identical components or identical features, with the result that a description of a component with respect to one figure also applies to the other figures, thus avoiding a repetitive description. Furthermore, individual features described in connection with one embodiment can also be separately used in other embodiments.

[0042] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a production plant according to the invention for producing a multiplicity of articles in different states, which production plant is designed to carry out the method according to the invention. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the production plant is designed to produce injection-molded parts. For this purpose, the production plant has a multiplicity of machine tools 10 which are in the form of injection molding machines 10 and are arranged in a production hall of the production plant. The production hall is accessible via a rolling gate 31 and doors 30, through which machine tool parts 11, 12 in the form of injection molds 11, 12 can be transported into the production hall, for example.

[0043] The production plant has a multiplicity of RFID reading devices 20, 20_1, 20_2, 20_3, 20_4 which are arranged at a distance from one another at different locations. In this case, first RFID reading devices 20_1 are arranged adjacent to the gate 31. Second RFID reading devices 20_2 are arranged adjacent to the door 30. A third RFID reading device 20_3 is arranged adjacent to a preparation location 13 of the injection molding machine 10. A fourth RFID reading device 20_4 is arranged inside the injection molding machine 10.

[0044] The machine tool part 11 is in the form of an ejection side of the machine tool part, and the machine tool part 12 is in the form of a nozzle side of the machine tool part. The machine tool parts 11, 12 are each provided with an RFID transponder not illustrated in the figures. The RFID transponders can be read using all RFID reading devices 20. The positions of the machine tool parts 11, 12 can therefore be determined using the RFID reading devices 20.

[0045] The production plant according to the invention also has a control device which is not illustrated in the figures and is connected to all RFID reading devices 20, 20_1, 20_2, 20_3, 20_4 via data lines which are not illustrated in the figures. The data lines are preferably wireless data lines.

[0046] The production plant and the control device are designed to determine the locations of the machine tool parts 11, 12 at a first time and at a second time. A direction of movement of the machine tool parts 11, 12 can consequently be determined. The control device is also designed to output control signals on the basis of the first and second positions of the machine tool parts 11, 12. The control signals may be, for example, a control signal for opening and/or closing the gate 31, for opening and/or closing the door 30, for controlling the temperature of the injection molding machine 10, etc.

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates a state of the production plant in which the machine tool parts 11, 12 have been transported into an entrance hall of the production hall through the gate 31 by operating personnel, for example by means of a forklift truck. The position of the machine tool parts 11, 12 is determined at a first time by means of the first RFID reading devices 20_1. The machine tool parts 11, 12 are then transported to the preparation location 13 of the injection molding machine 10. In this case, the machine tool parts pass through the door 30, with the result that the position of the machine tool parts 11, 12 at a second time is determined by the RFID reading devices 20_2 adjacent to the door 30. The control device is designed to determine a direction of movement and a speed of movement of the machine tool parts 11, 12 on the basis of the first locations, the second locations and a time difference between the first time and the second time. Control signals are output to the injection molding machine 10 on the basis of this direction of movement of the machine tool parts 11, 12 and possibly on the basis of the speed of movement of the machine tool parts 11, 12. These control signals may be, for example, a quantity of material needed to produce an article, an article volume of the article to be produced, a shot weight of the article to be produced, a temperature control plan for the injection molding machine, etc.

[0048] The position of the machine tool parts 11, 12 is determined at a third time by means of the third RFID reading devices 20_3 at the preparation location 13. This detected position can be used to output a control signal in order to inform an operative that the injection molding machine is ready for the installation of the injection molds 11, 12.

[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates the production plant in the state in which the injection molds 11, 12 have been installed in the injection molding machine 10. It is now possible to output a control signal which is used to start the production of injection-molded parts.

[0050] A state in which the ejection side of the machine tool part 11 has been removed from the injection molding machine 10 and has been conveyed into an entrance hall of the production hall through the door 30 is clear from FIG. 4. The RFID reading devices 20 detect that the nozzle side of the machine tool part 12 remains in the injection molding machine 10, whereas the ejection side of the machine tool part 11 has been removed from the injection molding machine 10 and has been transported into the entrance hall of the production hall through the door 30. Accordingly, it is then possible to output a control signal which is used to inform personnel, for example, that production is not permissible at this time. Furthermore, it is possible to output a control signal which outputs a message to a mechanic stating that a mold half is expected in the injection molding machine 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0051] 10 Machine tool/injection molding machine [0052] 11 (First) machine tool part/injection mold/plastic mold/ejection side of the machine tool part [0053] 12 (Second) machine tool part/injection mold/plastic mold/nozzle side of the machine tool part [0054] 13 Preparation location (of the machine tool) [0055] 20, 20_1 (First) RFID reading device [0056] 20, 20_2 (Second) RFID reading device [0057] 20, 20_3 (Third) RFID reading device [0058] 30 Door [0059] 31 Rolling gate [0060] 32 Material store [0061] 33 Dryer