Method and device for guaranteeing an authorised and process-optimised use of semi-finished pieces in a production unit

• US 20050131566A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sig Combibloc Systems GmbH (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Sig Combibloc Systems GmbH (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: Leuning, Hans-Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/108
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31039 Count assembled parts, change program during assembly if number reached
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and device for guaranteeing an authorized and process-optimized use of semi-finished pieces for product generation in a production unit are disclosed. In order to guarantee that semi-finished pieces not released for production or similar cannot be processed unknowingly, said method comprises the following steps: reading calibration data for calibration of the production unit to the semi-finished pieces for processing and reading the data on a given maximum number of products to be produced (maximum number) from an external storage medium supplied with the semi-finished product, calibration of the production unit according to the calibration data for the delivered semi-finished products, programming the production unit to the maximum permitted number of products with the best possible calibration, comparison of a number of produced products since an authorized starting point (actual number) with the maximum number and issuing a message on the maximum number being exceeded by the actual number.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of ensuring authorized and process-optimized use of semi-finished materials for product production in a production facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a) reading out calibration data to calibrate the production facility to the semi-finished materials to be processed and reading out data about a predetermined maximum number of products to be produced, represented as a maximum number, from an external storage medium supplied with the semi-finished material;

b) calibrating the production facility in accordance with the calibration data of the semi-finished materials supplied;

c) programming the production facility to the maximum enabled number of products using best-possible calibration;

d) comparing a number of products produced from an authorized starting time, represented as an actual number, to the maximum number; and

e) outputting a message when the maximum number is exceeded by the actual number.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the actual number determined in the production facility is transmitted to a monitoring and control unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the maximum number is transmitted to the monitoring and control unit.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the actual number and the maximum number are encrypted.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein a transaction number is read in with the maximum number and transmitted to the monitoring and control unit.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the TAN of the products to be produced is read out of the external storage medium delivered with the semi-finished material.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the calibration data for calibrating the production facility is transmitted to the monitoring and control unit.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the monitoring and control unit stops the production facility and begins the production again after a new verified maximum number is read in after the maximum number is exceeded by the actual number.

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein packaging materials for producing packages are used as the semi-finished materials.

30. A device for ensuring authorized and process-optimized use of semi-finished materials for product production in a production facility, wherein the device is comprised of:

a monitoring and control unit for comparing an actual number of products produced from an authorized starting time to a maximum number of products to be produced;

an output device for outputting one of a warning message and a request to input a new maximum number;

a program memory for storing comparison algorithms; and

an input device for inputting the maximum number into one of the program memory and the monitoring and control unit.

31. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a clock generator for determining the actual number.

32. The device according to claim 30, further comprising an encryption unit for encrypting and decrypting programs and data.

33. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a replaceable external storage medium for supplying one of the maximum number and further data.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the external storage medium is a card having one of a magnetic strip and memory chip.

35. The device according to claim 33, wherein the external storage medium is one of a diskette and a tape.

36. The device according to claim 33, wherein the external storage medium is an optical disk.

37. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a monitoring unit, wherein the monitoring unit and programs of the monitoring unit are located outside the production facility.

38. The device according to claim 37, wherein the monitoring unit is connected to the monitoring and control unit via a data net.

39. The device according to claim 30, wherein a card reading device is used as an input device.

40. The device according to claim 30, wherein the production facility is a filling facility.