Method for the computer-assisted regulating of a plurality of serially coupled machines, regulating device and machine arrangement

• US 7,136,719 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henkel KGaA (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Henkel KGaA (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Inventors: Weiss, Matthias, Reifferscheidt, Ralf, Pokorny, Sascha, Brinkmann, Heiner, Hennig, Joachim, Meier, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US11/240,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 700/103, 700173-175, 700 28- 30, 700 47- 49, 702/44, 706/62, 318/561, 318/567, 318569-571
• US Class Current: 700/173
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/52 Defective operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2513/10 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0285 using neural networks and fuzzy logic

Abstract

A method for stabilizing machine processes in which the machines are regulated by a machine regulation matrix selected from a plurality of machine regulation matrixes using a detected machine sensor value, set-point values of the machines being stored in each machine regulation matrix. A process is optimized according to a predefined criterion by also using some of the machine sensor values such that a machine regulation matrix which is optimal according to the process optimization is determined from the plurality of machine regulation matrixes and is subsequently used for regulating the machines.

Claims

1. A method of computer-aided control of a process comprising a plurality of machines coupled to one another in series, comprising the steps of:

(a) recording one or more machine sensor values;

(b) controlling process stabilization with a machine control matrix selected from a plurality of machine control matrices, wherein the selected matrix controls process stabilization using at least one of the recorded machine sensor values, and wherein each of the plurality of machine control matrices stores one or more nominal control values for the controlled machines;

(c) determining process optimization using a predeterminable criterion and at least one of the recorded machine sensor values;

(d) selecting an optimum machine control matrix from the plurality of machine control matrices on the basis of the process optimization; and

(e) using the selected matrix to control the machines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein nominal speed values at which the respective machines are intended to be operated are stored in the selected machine control matrix.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the speed values in the machine control matrix are allocated to the machines in accordance with a speed V profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the nominal control value(s) of the selected machine control matrix are varied, and process is controlled on the basis of the varied nominal control value(s).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected matrix comprises a computer-aided simulation of the plurality of machines coupled in series, and the process optimization is carried out on the basis of the computer-aided simulation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the process optimization is carried out in order to maximize process output.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the machines is a processing machine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the machines is a packaging machine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the machines is in the form of one of the following machines:

bottle erector machine

material filling machine

cap sorting machine

cap aligner machine

bottle closure machine

bottle shoe lifter machine

bottle labeling machine,

coding machine

sticker machine

sheet shrinkage machine

multiple pack aligner machine,

carton packaging machine

carton closure machine

carton label printing machine

checking balance

palletization machine.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the process optimization is carried out repeatedly as a function of a predetermined repetition criterion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the process optimization is carried out repeatedly in a predeterminable repetition period.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the process optimization is carried out using one or more of the following optimization methods:

an iterative optimization method,

a gradient-based optimization method, or

a model-based optimization method.

13. A control device for controlling a plurality of machines that are coupled in a process in series with one another, comprising:

(a) a recording device for recording of machine sensor values;

(b) a control unit for process-stabilizing control of the machines in accordance with a machine control matrix that is selected from a plurality of machine control matrices, each machine control matrix storing nominal control values for the controlled machines and using at least one recorded machine sensor value;

(c) a process optimization unit for optimizing the process on the basis of a predeterminable criterion using at least one recorded machine sensor value; and

(d) a machine control matrix selection unit that determines and selects an optimum machine control matrix, on the basis of the process optimization, from the plurality of machine control matrices, which optimum machine control matrix is then used to control the machines.