Method for controlling a packaging machine and a packaging machine

• US 10,569,918 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIG Technology AG (SIG Group AG)
• Original Assignee: SIG Technology AG (SIG Group AG)
• Inventors: Konze, Sabine, Theissen, Peter, Merten, Lukas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US15/107,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/06 by gravity flow
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/40 by timing of filling operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/02 Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/025 Packaging in aseptic tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/00 Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/20 by folding-down preformed flaps
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31192 Token passing protocol, priority token passing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45226 Process control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

A method for controlling a packaging machine in which at least two operating states of the packaging machine are defined and independent from one another. At least one of a plurality of defined process sequences is allocated to each of the operating states and at least one actuator of the packaging machine is actuated by a process sequence, in order to carry out at least one action. Improved control and maintenance of the machine is made possible by an authorisation for access to an actuator being exclusively and specifically allocated to only one process sequence depending on the operating state.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a packaging machine comprising:

defining at least two operating states of the packaging machine which are independent from one another,

allocating at least one of a plurality of defined process sequences to each of the operating states and

actuating at least one operating resource of the packaging machine by a process sequence, in order to carry out at least one action,

wherein

an authorization for access to an operating resource is exclusively allocated to one single process sequence using solely a single control device depending on the operating state stored in the control device, and

wherein at least two operating resources depending on their respective functions or other sort criteria within the packaging machine are allocated to a group, and wherein the exclusive authorization for access to a group is allocated to one process sequence.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein only the exclusively access authorized process sequence can actuate and/or change a state of an operating resource.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein with each change between two operating states the authorization for access to an operating resource or a group is checked and as appropriate an authorization for access to an operating resource or a group is assigned to another process sequence.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packaging machine is specifically only in one operating state at each point in time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two sub-processes are defined in at least one of the process sequences.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in a process sequence or a sub-process, access to at least one of the operating resources is defined via at least one access table.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one target state is defined for at least one operating resource in an access table.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an access table is specifically allocated to a process sequence.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein target operating resource states of at least two operating resources are described in an access description in an access table.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packaging machine is controlled depending on the operating resource states defined in the access table.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein an operating state is at least one of the operating states selected from the following group:

power up/start up;

ready for sterilization and/or cleaning;

sterilization;

production;

ready for cleaning;

cleaning (CIP); and

shut down.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a process sequence is at least one of the process sequences selected from the following group:

sterilization, in particular H2O2 sterilization;

sterilization during production, in particular H2O2 sterilization during production;

steam sterilization;

production;

chain cleaning;

steam barrier/steam node;

circulation cleaning; and

base process operation.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein an operating resource is at least one of the operating resources selected from the following group:

control valve;

heater;

compressed air generator;

steam unit;

servomotor;

pump;

ventilator;

sterilizer;

a sensor control system;

logical interconnection; and

import signal and/or export signal.

14. A packaging machine comprising:

a single control device,

a program memory,

plurality of operating resources

wherein the control device solely controls an access by a process sequence stored in the program memory to at least one of the operating resource, and

wherein depending on an operating state the control device exclusively grants to only one of the process sequences an access authorization to an operating resource,

wherein at least two operating resources depending on their respective functions or other sort criteria within the packaging machine are allocated to a group, and wherein the exclusive authorization for access to a group is allocated to one process sequence.

15. The packaging machine according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of operating resources comprise actuators and/or sensors.