Device for at Least One Industrial Automated Process

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for at least one industrial automated process (110), in particular a weighing and/or packing and/or arranging and/or packing process, comprising: at least one sensor (30) for determining at least one process data value which is relevant to the entire process by detecting at least one partial process parameter of the device (10), which parameter is relevant to the entire process, a processing device (40), which is electrically connected to the sensor (30) for processing the process data value, an interface device (50) for data connection and for forwarding the process data value to at least one individual machine (2a, 2b, 2c) located upstream and/or downstream in the process (110), wherein the total process (110) can be evaluated with reference to the process data value by comparison with a pre-defined process instruction (130).

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A device for at least one industrial automated process comprising: at least one sensor for determining at least one overall-process-relevant process data value through a detection of at least one overall-process-relevant sub-process parameter of the device, a processing device which is electrically connected to the sensor for the processing of the process data value, an interface device for the data connection and forwarding of the process data value to at least one individual machine located upstream or downstream in the process, wherein the entire process can be evaluated by means of the process data value by a comparison with a predefined process default.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the device comprises a data storage unit in order to store the determined process data value, preferably permanently.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the device is configured as at least an industrial machine or as a robot.

20. A system for at least one industrial automated process including: at least two individual machines respectively for carrying out a respective sub-process of the overall process, wherein the individual machines respectively comprise at least one sensor for determining at least one overall-process-relevant process data value through a detection of at least one respective overall-process-relevant sub-process parameter, at least one transmitting device for data connection with the respective individual machines, in order to provide the process data value across sub-processes, at least one data storage unit for storing of the process data value, wherein, based on the process data value, the overall process can be evaluated through a comparison with a pre-defined process default.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the individual machines include at least one of the following machines: a hood stretcher, wherein sub-process parameter is a force/path course in the stretching of a film through the hood stretcher, a palletizer, wherein sub-process parameter is a force in the moving of a product (of the process) through at least the palletizer, or a weight or a height of the pallet of the palletizer, a filling machine, preferably a form-fill-seal machine, wherein sub-process parameter is a force in the further transport of at least the product or a filling time or an bulk density or a weight of the product (of the process).

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the individual machines is configured as a device for at least one industrial automated process comprising: at least one sensor for determining at least one overall-process-relevant process data value through a detection of at least one overall-process-relevant sub-process parameter of the device, a processing device which is electrically connected to the sensor for the processing of the process data value, an interface device for the data connection and forwarding of the process data value to at least one individual machine located upstream or downstream in the process, wherein the entire process can be evaluated by means of the process data value by a comparison with a predefined process default.

23. A method for an evaluation in at least one industrial automated process wherein the entire process includes at least two sub-processes, wherein a process default is predefined across the sub-process, which comprises at least one comparison value for at least one overall-process-relevant process data value, comprising the following steps: a) Determining the at least one overall-process-relevant process data value at least in at least one upstream sub-process or in a downstream sub-process, b) Checking the plausibility of the process data value outside of the upstream sub-process in such a manner that the process data value is compared with the comparison value, whereby an evaluation result specific for the entire process is established, wherein, based on the evaluation result, the upstream sub-process is evaluated.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein a permanent storing of at least the evaluation result or the process data value is effected preferably centrally for all sub-processes of the process, in a process recording.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein a product of the downstream sub-process is provided with an identifier, preferably a machine-readable code, which preferably at least comprises information about a process recording, or is created depending upon the process recording.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one comparison value defines at least one range of values, wherein a warning sequence is initiated, if, according to the plausibility checks, a deviation of the process data value from the range of values is determined, wherein preferably, the warning sequence includes a notice to an operator of the downstream sub-process.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein each sub-process is performed by respectively at least one individual machine assigned to the respective sub-process, wherein preferably, in each sub-process at least one overall-process-relevant sub-process data value, specific to the respective sub-process, is determined, wherein preferably, the at least one process data value at least includes at least one measured value or one measured value curve.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the process data value is determined at least through the detection of a material-specific or individual-machine-specific or product-specific or supply-process-specific, overall-process-relevant sub-process parameter.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein the plausibility check is carried out adaptively, preferably in that a warning sequence is initiated upon determination of a negative evaluation result, so that an operator input to adjust the comparison value is at least requested or evaluated.

30. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least the storage or a forwarding of the process data value occurs at least encrypted or protected against forgery or security-certified.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein the process data value is determined in the upstream sub-process, wherein the downstream sub-process carries out the plausibility check of the process data value determined in the upstream sub-process, so that a downstream individual machine of the downstream sub-process is actuated, preferably depending upon the process data value determined in the upstream sub-process.

32. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least one individual machine is provided to carry out one of the sub-processes, and is configured at least according to a device for at least one industrial automated process comprising: at least one sensor for determining at least one overall-process-relevant process data value through a detection of at least one overall-process-relevant sub-process parameter of the device, a processing device which is electrically connected to the sensor for the processing of the process data value, an interface device for the data connection and forwarding of the process data value to at least one individual machine located upstream or downstream in the process, wherein the entire process can be evaluated by means of the process data value by a comparison with a predefined process default or that a system A system for at least one industrial automated process including: at least two individual machines respectively for carrying out a respective sub-process of the overall process, wherein the individual machines respectively comprise at least one sensor for determining at least one overall-process-relevant process data value through a detection of at least one respective overall-process-relevant sub-process parameter, at least one transmitting device for data connection with the respective individual machines, in order to provide the process data value across sub-processes, at least one data storage unit for storing of the process data value, wherein, based on the process data value, the overall process can be evaluated through a comparison with a pre-defined process default can be operated.

Description

[0053] Further advantages, features, and properties of the invention result from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the illustrations. Here features referred to in the claims and in the description can each individually, or in any desired combination, be relevant to the invention. The Figures show in:

[0054] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a system according to the invention,

[0055] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a device according to the invention, and

[0056] FIG. 3 a schematic representation for visualizing a method according to the invention.

[0057] In the following figures, the identical reference characters are used for the same technical features, even of different exemplary embodiments.

[0058] In FIG. 1, a system 1 according to the invention is schematically represented, wherein an overall process 110 is represented. The overall process 110 here includes, for example, multiple sub-processes 120, for example a first (upstream) sub-process 120a, a second (upstream) sub-process 120b, and/or a third (or first downstream) sub-process 120c. In each of the sub-processes 120, at least one individual machine 2 is provided here, which, for example, can be configured as a device 10 according to the invention. Thus, for example, a first (upstream) individual machine 2a can be configured as a filling machine, a second (upstream) individual machine 2b can be configured as a palletizer, and/or a third (downstream) individual machine 2c can be configured as a hood stretcher. In particular, in each sub-process 120, and/or in each individual machine 2, a determination of at least one overall-process-relevant process data value, through a detecting of at least one overall-process-relevant sub-process parameter of the respective individual machine 2 and/or device 10 according to the invention is possible. To that end, at least one or each individual machine 2 includes at least one sensor 30, In particular, at least one or each individual machine 2 includes at least one data storage unit 20, in order to, for example, permanently store the process data values. For the transmission of the process data values, a transmission device 3 is moreover provided, which is configured, for example, as a network and/or as a radio transmission system. A (single) process default 130 is provided and/or defined across sub-process, that means for a first sub-process 120a, as well as also for a second sub-process 120a, as well as also for a third sub-process 120c.

[0059] In FIG. 2, a device 10 according to the invention is more closely represented. Here, the device 10 according to the invention can, for example, comprise a sensor 30, and/or a processing device 40 for processing the process data values, and/or an interface device 50 for connecting to further devices 10 according to the invention, and/or individual machines 2. Moreover, in particular a data storage unit 20 is also provided, wherein the data storage unit 20 is electrically connected to the sensor 30, and/or the processing device 40, and/or the interface device 50, for example on a circuit board, not represented, of the device 10 according to the invention.

[0060] FIG. 3 schematically visualizes a method 100 according to the invention. Here, according to a first method step 100.1, at least on overall-process-relevant process data value is determined in at least one upstream sub-process 120a, 120b of the (overall) process 110. According to a second method step 100.2, the overall-process-relevant process data value is, alternatively or additionally to the first method step 100.1, determined in a downstream sub-process 120c of the process 110. According to a third method step 100.3, a plausibility check of the determined process data value occurs outside of the upstream process 120a, 120b, in particular in such a manner that the process data value is compared with a respective comparison value of the process default 130.

[0061] The preceding description of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively within the scope of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can, insofar as technically useful, be freely combined with one another, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0062] 1 system [0063] 2 individual machine [0064] 2a first/upstream individual machine [0065] 2b second/upstream individual machine [0066] 2c downstream individual machine, third individual machine [0067] 3 transmission device [0068] 10 device [0069] 20 data storage unit [0070] 30 sensor [0071] 40 processing device [0072] 50 interface device [0073] 100 method [0074] 100.1 first method step [0075] 100.2 second method step [0076] 100.3 third method step [0077] 110 process, overall process [0078] 120 sub-process [0079] 120a first/upstream sub-process [0080] 120b second/upstream sub-process [0081] 120c first downstream sub-process, third sub-process [0082] 150 process default