Multifunctional gateway unit, production system and method for operating a production system

Abstract

A multifunctional gateway unit (10), which is used to connect at least one device (20) to a data server (30). The device is particularly used for processing, operating or storing workpieces, and the workpieces are preferably at least partially composed of wood, wood-based panels or plastics, comprising: at least one data interface (12) for connecting the gateway unit (10) to the data server (30); at least one computing unit (14), which has a CPU and is configured to exchange data with the data interface (12); at least one sensor interface (16), which is configured to receive data from a sensor (22) associated with the device (20) and forward the data to the computing unit (14); and / or at least one output interface (18), which is configured to receive data from the computing unit (14) and forward the data to at least one unit (24) of the device (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-functional gateway unit for connecting at least one device to a data server, where the device is particularly used for processing, operating, or storing workpieces preferably at least partially made of wood, wood-based panels, or plastics. In addition, the present invention relates to a production system and a method for operating a production system. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the networking of production systems for processing, operating, or storing workpieces has been continuously improved. Thus, on the one hand, machines and facilities are networked with each other internally in terms of data, and on the other hand, more and more machines and facilities are also coupled to external devices via the Internet. For this purpose, the slogan "Industry 4.0" has been established.

[0003] For example, a system that communicates with a wood processing machine via a data remote transmission interface is disclosed in DE 10 2017 207 993A.

[0004] In order to be able to network corresponding machines and facilities with other devices, usually personalized and customized solutions are required, which results in high technical costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to achieve the networking of devices, particularly for processing, operating, or storing workpieces, installation materials, operating mechanisms, or tools, with low cost and smoothly.

[0006] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the multi-functional gateway unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, the production system according to claim 9, and the method for operating a production system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Particularly preferred improvements of the present invention are given in the embodiments according to the present invention.

[0007] The present invention is based on the following basic idea: to implement a modular and universally applicable unit that enables flexible and rapid networking of devices with other instruments or data servers. For this purpose, the present invention includes a multi-functional gateway unit for connecting at least one device to a data server, where the device is particularly used for processing, operating, or storing workpieces, and the device has at least one data interface for connecting the gateway unit to the data server. In addition, the multi-functional gateway unit includes a computing unit having a CPU and configured to exchange data with the data interface.

[0008] In addition, the multifunctional gateway unit includes at least one additional interface. This additional interface can be a sensor interface, which is configured to receive data from sensors associated with the device and forward it to the computing unit. Alternatively or additionally, the additional interface can be an output interface, which is configured to receive data from the computing unit and forward it to at least one unit of the device.

[0009] In this way, the present invention provides a large number of functions in an integrated gateway unit, which does not require large (configuration) costs and quickly realizes the networking of the devices in the production system. The gateway unit is modular, flexible and preferably mobile, so that it can be used in practice at any location and in any environment in practice.

[0010] Due to the sensor interface of the gateway unit according to the present invention, the gateway unit can be connected to various sensors of the corresponding device and thus make a significant contribution to efficient and safe operation. The term "sensor" is broadly understood in this context and refers to a device that collects and provides information about the corresponding device. Thus, in addition to classical sensors such as acceleration sensors, it can also refer to image or sound detection sensors such as cameras or microphones, for example.

[0011] In addition, due to the output interface of the gateway unit according to the present invention, the gateway unit can play a central role in controlling important device functions, and examples and particularities of at least one unit connected to the output interface will be explored in more detail below.

[0012] Within the scope of the present invention, the computing unit can be equipped in different ways. If the computing unit has a single-board computer according to an improved form of the present invention, a particularly simple and flexible structure is obtained. A single-board computer such as a Raspberry-Pi can be configured very compactly and still be able to match the corresponding requirements very flexibly and process various types of software and data. However, within the scope of the present invention, a multi-board computer can also be advantageous in cases where higher requirements are placed on flexibility or computing power.

[0013] In principle, the interfaces of the gateway unit according to the present invention can work wired, for example, can also be used as a LAN interface. However, according to an improved form of the present invention, it is proposed that at least one interface, in particular at least one data interface, works wirelessly. In this way, the flexibility and location independence of the gateway unit according to the present invention are further improved. Here, it is particularly preferred that one of the interfaces is equipped as a WLAN or mobile radio interface, so that the above advantages can be achieved with high data security and transmission rate.

[0014] Furthermore, according to an improved form of the present invention, the gateway unit has identification means, such as in particular an NFC interface or an optical recognition mechanism. Thereby, the coupling of the gateway unit with devices or other instruments to be discussed in more detail below can be significantly simplified. Thus, during the coupling process, the identification means can not only transmit the identity and characteristics of the gateway unit, but also transmit, for example, location or other environmental parameters. In this way, an automated coupling process that requires very little user interaction can be assisted.

[0015] In addition, according to an improved form of the present invention, it is proposed that the gateway unit has display means, which are preferably selected from lighting elements, screens, projectors, speakers and vibration devices. Thereby, the gateway unit can provide important additional functionality at low cost, such as displaying the status of the gateway unit as well as the coupled devices and instruments. In addition, important alarm notifications can also be output, which significantly improves operational safety. It is also possible to provide useful operating instructions, context menus or various other aids for the user at low cost.

[0016] According to an improved form of the present invention, the gateway unit has a housing, and the components of the gateway unit are arranged in or on the housing, wherein the housing forms a module that can be moved and parked separately. Thereby, the mobility and versatility of the gateway unit according to the present invention are further improved. Thus, the gateway unit can be installed at any arbitrary position without problems, without the need for complex and costly integration of components into existing devices or facilities. At the same time, the components of the gateway unit can be protected from environmental influences and damage by the housing, which can be particularly important in a production environment.

[0017] Regarding the smooth and problem-free coupling sought to be achieved for the gateway unit, according to an improved form of the present invention, the gateway unit has a plug-and-play unit, which is set up to identify sensors connected to the sensor interface and / or units of the device connected to the output interface and to configure a computing unit for communication. Thereby, it is feasible to couple the gateway unit according to the present invention with any device and instrument, and for this purpose, no specific operating steps or procedures of the operator are required other than the coupling process via the corresponding interfaces. This does not prevent that, under specific boundary conditions, for example for reasons of operational and work safety, certain procedures are still carried out or confirmed by the operator. In any case, a great simplification and extremely versatile usability of the gateway unit according to the present invention are achieved, which is particularly advantageous in the case of a change in the use location or a change in the configuration of the production system.

[0018] Here, it is particularly preferred that the plug-and-play unit is set up to access the configuration data stored in the gateway unit and / or to access external configuration data via a data interface. The coupling process can be realized by means of the stored configuration data, and the coupling process can optionally be fully automated and realized with a high degree of security in a short time. By accessing external configuration data via the data interface by the plug-and-play unit, a wider range of couplable devices and instruments can be realized, so that the couplability of the gateway unit according to the present invention is not limited in practice.

[0019] The above advantages are particularly evident when the multifunctional gateway unit according to the present invention is used in the production system according to the embodiments of the present invention, and the production system also has devices such as for processing, operating or storing workpieces, installation materials, operating mechanisms or tools. Within the scope of the present invention, the workpiece can preferably be at least partially composed of wood, wood-based panels, plastics, etc., but the present invention is not limited thereto. In such a production system, diverse production requirements and changing configurations may occur, so that the multifunctional gateway unit according to the present invention can play a central role in improving the efficiency, reliability and operating safety of the entire production system.

[0020] If the production system according to an improved form of the present invention includes a mobile terminal device set up to communicate with the multifunctional gateway unit, especially via a data server, then these advantages are more clearly evident. In this way, the setup and operation of the production system can be designed to be more efficient, safer and more user-friendly, where each component of the production system can be assigned a specific task, and the task can be best completed by these components. Therefore, the mobile terminal device can in particular be designed to interact directly with the operator and can access a verified user interface here. The mobile terminal can be personalized here, that is, assigned to the operator, while the remaining components are assigned to specific devices or specific instruments, for example, permanently or at least temporarily. In this way, a dynamic production system is obtained, in which the operator with the mobile terminal is permanently or temporarily coupled to a specific gateway unit, either directly or via a data server, optionally, using the Internet.

[0021] Here, it is particularly preferred that the mobile terminal device has an identification device such as especially an NFC interface or an optical identification device. Thereby, the coupling process between the mobile terminal device and, for example, the gateway unit or other instruments can be assisted, and context-related information such as the location or other parameters of the unit to be coupled can be transmitted especially, and optionally, it can also be bidirectional.

[0022] According to an improved form of the present invention, it is further proposed that the device has a unit coupled to the multi-functional gateway unit. Thereby, it is feasible to influence the operation of one or more devices of the production system via the multi-functional gateway unit, whereby a non-obvious variety of the above advantages can be achieved, such as in particular increased efficiency, increased operating safety and increased flexibility. Here, various units of the device can be coupled and responsive, and the units are preferably selected from light displays, such as in particular LED strip lights, screens, projectors, speakers, vibration devices, printers, machine control devices, controller boxes and actuators. This list shows that the production system according to the present invention has a great scope with respect to increasing the efficiency, operating safety and variability of the system.

[0023] The method for operating the production system according to the present invention according to the present invention is the subject of an embodiment of the present invention. The method is characterized in that the multi-functional gateway unit is coupled to the device via a sensor interface and / or an output interface, and on the other hand, the multi-functional gateway unit is coupled to the data server via a data interface, in particular via the Internet. This shows the flexible and modular characteristics of the method according to the present invention, by means of which the multi-functional gateway unit can work with various devices and can rely on the practically unrestricted variety of information and instructions from the data server here.

[0024] In order to ensure as smooth and reliable a coupling process as possible, according to an improved form of the method according to the present invention, the following steps are carried out before the multi-functional gateway unit is coupled to the device: the multi-functional gateway unit identifies the unit to be coupled of the sensor and / or device to be coupled, the multi-functional gateway unit checks whether there is an object in the multi-functional gateway unit that is set up to communicate with the unit to be coupled of the device and / or the sensor to be coupled, if there is an object, then a coupling is established between the unit to be coupled of the sensor or device to be coupled and the multi-functional gateway unit using the object, and / or if there is no object, then a suitable object is obtained via the data interface and then a coupling is established between the unit to be coupled of the device or the sensor to be coupled and the multi-functional gateway unit using the obtained object.

[0025] According to an improved form of the present invention, at least one mobile terminal device is coupled to the multi-functional gateway unit, more precisely, preferably via the data server. Thereby, the advantages mentioned above in connection with the mobile terminal device can be particularly effectively achieved.

[0026] Furthermore, according to an improved form of the method of the present invention, it is proposed that an identification process be carried out before at least one mobile terminal device is coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit, wherein the mobile terminal device identifies at least one parameter of the multifunctional gateway unit and / or the unit and / or sensor of the device. In this way, different context information can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device, such as the type or location of the corresponding device or instrument, different operating states, and various other parameters. As a result, a smooth and interference-free coupling process is achieved, and the operation of the production system can be directly transferred after coupling.

[0027] Furthermore, according to an improved form of the present invention, device-related data is provided from the multifunctional gateway unit to the data server and / or the mobile terminal device. Thereby, the units and instruments for controlling the production system can always be informed of the status and requirements of the devices of the production system, which enables the smooth, interference-free, and efficient operation of the production system.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, according to an improved form of the present invention, device-related data or instructions can be provided from the data server and / or the mobile terminal device to the multifunctional gateway unit. In this way, different instruments or devices of the production system can directly affect the operation of different devices, with corresponding advantages in terms of flexibility, productivity, and interference-freeness for the entire system.

[0029] Furthermore, according to an improved form of the present invention, it is proposed that the mobile terminal device is preferably coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit via the data server and then at least one unit and / or at least one sensor of the device is coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit using the mobile terminal device. In this way, the mobile terminal device can be used to assist or control the coupling process between the multifunctional gateway unit and the corresponding device. This not only improves the reliability of the coupling process between the gateway unit and the device, but also significantly increases the range of devices that can be coupled to the gateway unit. Thus, for example, the coupling process can be assisted or at least confirmed retrospectively by means of the mobile terminal device, so that the mobile gateway unit can also be coupled to completely unknown or new or at least hitherto uncoupled devices to the gateway unit. This highlights the flexible and newly adjustable characteristics of the production system according to the present invention and the method according to the present invention.

[0030] Furthermore, according to an improved form of the present invention, it is proposed that the multifunctional gateway unit displays the status of at least one unit and / or at least one sensor of the device. This additional function can be achieved with minimal effort and still significantly improves the reliability and operational safety of the production system according to the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0031] Figure 1Schematically shows an embodiment of a production system according to the present invention having a multifunctional gateway unit according to the present invention. Detailed Embodiment

[0032] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] In Figure 1 a production system 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. The production system is used for processing, operating (such as transposing or transporting) or storing various articles, and for this purpose includes at least one device 20. The articles can be, for example, workpieces, but can also be, for example, tools, consumables, running mechanisms, etc. In this embodiment, the device 20 is designed for processing, operating and storing workpieces, which are at least partially composed of wood, wood-based panels, plastics, etc., as widely used in the furniture and parts industries. Specifically, the device 20 can thus be, for example, a processing machine, such as for machining or coating workpieces, or for example a conveying device, a shelf or a storage system.

[0034] In order to be able to detect different parameters of the device 20, the device 20 includes at least one sensor 22, but preferably includes a plurality of sensors 22, such as acceleration sensors, image sensors (such as cameras), sound sensors (such as microphones), motion detectors, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, the device 20 includes at least one coupled unit 24, which is used to perform or assist different functions on the device. Thus, the coupled unit 24 can be, for example, a light display, such as an LED strip, which can assist the operator in this case to position the workpiece in the processing area or place it in a specific storage compartment or remove it from the storage compartment. However, the coupled unit 24 can also be various other instruments, such as output devices in the form of a screen, a projector, a speaker, a vibration device or a printer, in order to output information or instructions to the machine and / or the operator. A part of the controller box or the machine control device can also be used as the coupled unit 24. Optionally, the actuator or other active components of the device 20 can also be directly called as the coupled unit 24. The communication with the coupled unit 24 will be explored in more detail below.

[0036] Furthermore, the production system 100 includes a functional gateway unit 10, which has a substantially cuboid-shaped housing 13 in this embodiment and is thus designed as a Gateway-Cube. The Figure 1The components illustrated in the figure are arranged in the housing 13, where the dimensions and weight of the "cube" are designed such that the cube can be moved by an operator without problems and can be placed in any arbitrary position. Furthermore, although not shown in Figure 1 the housing 13 has mounting means, such as eyelet devices, magnet holding means, etc., in order to at least temporarily place the housing 13 at the device 20 or another suitable location when needed.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1 , the multifunctional gateway unit 10 includes a data interface 12, which is used to connect the gateway unit 10 to a data server 30. In principle, the data server 30 can be arranged locally (e.g., in a production workshop). However, the data server 30 is usually arranged in the "cloud", i.e., the data interface 12 is provided for accessing the data server 30 via an Internet connection or a similar connection. Here, preferably, the data interface 12 operates wirelessly and is designed, for example, as a W-Lan or mobile radio interface. However, alternatively or additionally, the gateway unit 10 can also have a LAN interface for connecting to the data server 30.

[0038] Furthermore, the multifunctional gateway unit includes a computing unit 14, which is designed as a single-board computer, such as of the Raspberry Pi type, in this embodiment. The computing unit 14 is used to exchange data with the data interface 12 and other units and interfaces of the multifunctional gateway unit 10 and to process this data.

[0039] Furthermore, the multifunctional gateway unit 10 has two additional interfaces in this embodiment, namely a sensor interface 16 and an output interface 18. The sensor interface 16 is used to receive data from one of the above-mentioned sensors 22 of the device 20 and forward it to the computing unit 14. In contrast, the output interface 18 is used to receive data from the computing unit 14 and forward it again to at least one of the above-mentioned coupled units 24 of the device 20.

[0040] Regarding the sensors 22 or units 24 to be connected to these interfaces 16 and 18, the multifunctional gateway unit 10 has a plug-and-play unit 15. This plug-and-play unit is used to identify the unit 24 connected to the output interface 18 or the sensor 22 connected to the sensor interface 16 of the device 20 and to configure the computing unit for communication. Thus, in principle, no user intervention is required to put the connected sensor 22 or the connected unit 24 into operation, although user intervention may be meaningful depending on the application.

[0041] During the configuration process, the plug-and-play unit 15 accesses the configuration data stored in the gateway unit 10 or downloads the configuration data from an external source such as a data server 30 or another suitable data server via the data interface 12.

[0042] In addition, the multifunctional gateway unit 10 in the present embodiment includes an NFC interface 19, which is used for quick identification and quick data exchange with external instruments. Alternatively, other identification mechanisms, such as optical identification mechanisms, can also be used.

[0043] In addition, the multifunctional gateway unit 10 in the present embodiment includes a display device in the form of an LED lighting element 11. In the present embodiment, the LED lighting element is used to display the status of the connected sensor 22 or unit 24 or the status of the gateway unit 10 itself, and optionally outputs an alarm notification or other prompts. However, a more complex display device, such as a screen, a projector, a speaker, or a vibration device and their combinations, can also be provided.

[0044] In addition, the production system 100 in the present embodiment includes a mobile terminal device 40, which can be designed in the form of a smart phone, a tablet computer, or other portable computers, for example. The mobile terminal device 40 is set up to communicate with the multifunctional gateway unit 10, and this communication can be carried out directly via the data interface 12 of the gateway unit 10 or indirectly via the data server 30, for example. It should be noted here that it is also possible to switch between these two communication methods as required, so that, for example, communication is carried out via the data server 30 only when data from the data server 30 is required for the ongoing action, and in other cases, direct communication occurs between the mobile terminal device 40 and the gateway unit 10, for example, via a WLAN or Bluetooth connection.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the terminal device 40 includes an NFC interface, so that identification and exchange of basic data occur before the mobile terminal device 40 is coupled to the gateway unit 10 as the basis for the coupling process. Therefore, the mobile terminal device can especially also obtain information about the current location and components of the production system 100.

[0046] The operation of the production system 100 according to the present invention is carried out as follows, for example: An operator equipped with the mobile terminal device 40 approaches the multifunctional gateway unit 10 and performs a first identification of the gateway unit 10 via the NFC interfaces 42 and 19. Here, the mobile terminal device 40 obtains information about the location and operating status of the gateway unit 10 on the one hand, but optionally also obtains information about the units connected to the gateway unit 10, such as the sensor 22, the coupled unit 24, and the data server 30, as long as these units have been coupled to the gateway unit 10.

[0047] Then, optionally after confirmation by the operator in the reverse direction, coupling occurs at the data interface 12 between the mobile terminal device 40 and the gateway unit 10 (optionally, in the case where a data server 30 is intermediately connected). From now on, the mobile terminal device 40 is connected to the gateway unit 10 such that the operation of the computing unit 14 can also affect the connected units 22 and 24 in a controlled manner when using the mobile terminal device 40. In this way, different processes of the production system can be controlled when using the mobile terminal device. Therefore, the configuration of the production system can also be assisted in the first stage, for example when a new sensor 22 is connected to the sensor interface 16. In this case, if the sensor 22 can be automatically coupled by a plug-and-play unit in principle, then the operator can be requested via the mobile terminal device 40 to enable the coupling of the sensor 22, confirm the sensor type, perform specific sensor configurations, etc. Obviously, the mobile terminal device 40 can also perform or assist the corresponding processes regarding the coupling of the unit 24 to the output interface 18 or the coupling of the data server 30 to the data interface 12.

[0048] However, in addition to these configuration processes, the mobile terminal device 40 can also be used for monitoring and optionally can also be used for targeted control of the entire production system 100 and especially the device 20. Therefore, on the one hand, device-related data can be displayed on the mobile terminal device 40, such as the status of the device 20 or the type and quantity of the workpiece that is being processed, operated on, or stored. On the other hand, the operator or optionally also a software module can also provide instructions to the device 20, such as in what manner to process, operate on, or store which workpieces. In this way, the mobile terminal device plays its core role in controlling and monitoring the production system 100.

[0049] In this case, it is particularly important that the mobile terminal device, which is usually temporarily assigned to a specific operator, can be coupled to any multifunctional gateway unit 10 quickly and without problems. Therefore, an operator equipped with the mobile unit 40 can move through a larger production system 100 with multiple multifunctional gateway units 10 and couple to the corresponding gateway unit as needed and quickly, for example to check the status of the connected devices or provide instructions. In further progress, the operator can also quickly decouple from the gateway unit 10 and then couple to another gateway unit without problems and quickly.

[0050] The same considerations correspondingly apply to the gateway unit 10, which can also be used quickly and without problems at different parts of the production system and, optionally, can be set up, coupled, and operated with the assistance of the mobile terminal device 40.

Claims

1. A multifunctional gateway unit (10) for connecting at least one device (20) to a data server (30), the device being used for processing, operating on, or storing workpieces that are at least partially composed of wood, wood-based panels, or plastics, the multifunctional gateway unit comprising: At least one data interface (12) for connecting the multifunctional gateway unit (10) to the data server (30), At least one computing unit (14) having a CPU and configured to exchange data with the data interface (12), At least one sensor interface (16) configured to receive data from sensors (22) associated with the device (20) and forward the data to the computing unit (14), and At least one output interface (18) configured to receive data from the computing unit (14) and forward it to at least one unit (24) of the device (20), Characterized in that the multifunctional gateway unit further has a plug-and-play unit (15), the plug-and-play unit being configured to identify the unit (24) connected to the output interface (18) of the device (20) and / or the sensor (22) connected to the sensor interface (16) and configure the computing unit for communication, and The plug-and-play unit (15) is configured to access configuration data stored in the multifunctional gateway unit (10) and / or access external configuration data via the data interface (12), Before coupling the multifunctional gateway unit (10) to the device (20), the following steps are performed: The multifunctional gateway unit (10) identifies the unit (24) to be coupled and / or the sensor (22) to be coupled of the device, The multifunctional gateway unit checks whether there is an object in the multifunctional gateway unit that is configured to communicate with the unit (24) to be coupled and / or the sensor (22) to be coupled of the device (20), If there is an object, then a coupling is established between the unit (24) to be coupled or the sensor (22) to be coupled of the device (20) and the multifunctional gateway unit (10) using the object, and / or If there is no object, then a suitable object is obtained via the data interface (12), and then a coupling is established between the unit (24) to be coupled or the sensor (22) to be coupled of the device (20) and the multifunctional gateway unit (10) using the obtained object.

2. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The computing unit (14) is a single-board computer or a multi-board computer.

3. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one interface operates wirelessly.

4. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The multifunctional gateway unit further has an identification device (19).

5. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The multifunctional gateway unit further has a display device (11).

6. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The multifunctional gateway unit further has a housing (13), and the components of the multifunctional gateway unit (10) are arranged in or on the housing.

7. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 3, wherein The interface is designed as a WLAN or a mobile radio interface.

8. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one data interface (12) operates wirelessly.

9. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The data interface (12) is designed as a WLAN or mobile radio interface.

10. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The multifunctional gateway unit also has an NFC interface or an optical recognition mechanism.

11. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The display device (11) is selected from lighting elements, screens, projectors, speakers, and vibration devices.

12. The multifunctional gateway unit according to claim 6, characterized in that, The housing (13) forms a module that can move and park independently.

13. A production system (100), the production system comprising: A device (20) for processing, operating, or storing workpieces or for operating or storing installation materials, operating mechanisms, or tools, where the workpiece is at least partially composed of wood, wood-based panels, or plastics, and The multifunctional gateway unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, for connecting the device to a data server.

14. The production system according to claim 13, the production system further comprising: A mobile terminal device (40) configured to communicate with the multifunctional gateway unit (10).

15. The production system according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The device (20) has a unit (24) coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit (10).

16. The production system according to claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal device (40) communicates with the multifunctional gateway unit (10) via the data server (30).

17. The production system according to claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal device (40) has an identification device (42).

18. The production system according to claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal device (40) has an NFC interface or an optical recognition device.

19. The production system according to claim 15, characterized in that, The unit (24) coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit (10) is selected from light displays, screens, projectors, speakers, vibration devices, printers, machine control devices, controller boxes, and actuators.

20. The production system according to claim 19, wherein, The light display is an LED strip.

21. A method for operating a production system (100) according to any one of claims 13 to 20, the method comprising the following steps: Coupling the multifunctional gateway unit (10) to the device (20) via a sensor interface (16) and / or an output interface (18), Coupling the multifunctional gateway unit (10) to a data server (30) via a data interface (12).

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein Before coupling the multifunctional gateway unit (10) to the device (20), perform the following steps: The multifunctional gateway unit (10) identifies the unit (24) and / or the sensor (22) to be coupled of the device, The multifunctional gateway unit checks whether there is an object in the multifunctional gateway unit that is configured to communicate with the unit (24) and / or the sensor (22) to be coupled of the device (20), If there is an object, then establish a coupling between the unit (24) or the sensor (22) to be coupled of the device (20) and the multifunctional gateway unit (10) using the object, and / or If no object exists, a suitable object is obtained via the data interface (12) and then a coupling is established between the unit (24) or sensor (22) to be coupled of the device (20) and the multifunctional gateway unit (10) using the obtained object.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, At least one mobile terminal device (40) is coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit (10).

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein Before coupling the at least one mobile terminal device (40) to the multifunctional gateway unit (10), an identification process is performed, in which the mobile terminal device (40) identifies at least one parameter of the multifunctional gateway unit (10) and / or the unit (24) and / or sensor (22) of the device (20).

25. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, Device-related data is provided from the multifunctional gateway unit (10) to the data server (30), and / or device-related data or instructions are provided from the data server (30) to the multifunctional gateway unit (10).

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein Device-related data is provided from the multifunctional gateway unit (10) to the mobile terminal device (40), and / or device-related data or instructions are provided from the mobile terminal device (40) to the multifunctional gateway unit (10).

27. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, The at least one unit (24) and / or at least one sensor (22) of the device (20) is coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit (10) using the mobile terminal device.

28. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, The multifunctional gateway unit (10) displays the status of the at least one unit (24) and / or at least one sensor (22) of the device (20).

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the multifunctional gateway unit (10) is coupled to the data server (30) via the Internet.

30. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that At least one mobile terminal device (40) is coupled to the multifunctional gateway unit (10) via the data server (30).

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