Multi-species food filling mechanism and control method thereof

Abstract

The application provides a multi-type food filling mechanism and a control method thereof, wherein the control method comprises the following steps: obtaining a layout completion instruction reported by a layout device, sequentially controlling the layout device to deliver the laid-out material to a conveying belt of a main body of a production line, and prompting each filling device to fill the corresponding material, wherein at least two of all the filling devices have a hole expanding function; each layout device is configured with at least two sets of identical and independent layout components; if it is detected that one of the layout components of any layout device fails, an alarm signal is triggered and a fault positioning is reported, and meanwhile, the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue running; and if it is detected that any filling device fails, an alarm signal is triggered and a fault positioning is reported, and meanwhile, the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue running. The application can meet the flexibility and universality requirements of the multi-type food filling mechanism, and improve the stability and filling speed of operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of food processing equipment, in particular to a multi-type food filling mechanism and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Food filling mechanisms, or food filling or production lines, are widely used in food processing, packaging and logistics industries. Their main function is to accurately fill different types of materials such as meat fillings, spices, etc. into target foods, or to accurately fill different types of foods into packaging containers. According to different food types and filling requirements, food filling mechanisms can be divided into many different types, such as liquid filling machines, powder filling machines, granular filling machines, paste filling machines, etc. However, in the study of food filling machines in the prior art, the inventors of this application found that the current food filling mechanisms, or food filling or production lines, not only have bulky lines and large equipment volumes, but also have complex processing component design and control, and are difficult to disassemble and assemble. They cannot meet the high flexibility and versatility required for frequent changes in product types or the production of multiple categories of food. When a workstation is blocked or malfunctions, it will directly affect the operation of the entire mechanism or production line, and thus seriously affect the filling accuracy and filling speed.

[0003] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a variety of food filling mechanisms and control methods thereof to solve the above technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present application proposes a multi-type food filling mechanism and a control method thereof to meet the flexibility and versatility requirements of filling a variety of food types, while improving the stability of the mechanism's operation and the filling accuracy and filling speed.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a control method for a multi-type food filling mechanism, the multi-type food filling mechanism comprising: a production line body, and a plurality of first-type processing equipment disposed on the production line body and a plurality of second-type processing equipment disposed on both sides of the production line body; the first-type processing equipment comprising at least two filling devices configured to perform a filling process and processes with a process tact within a preset tact; the second-type processing equipment comprising at least three typesetting devices configured to perform a typesetting process and processes with a process tact greater than a preset tact; wherein workstation scheduling and assembly can be performed according to the processing mode of the production line body;

[0006] The control method comprises at least the following steps:

[0007] Obtaining the typesetting completion instruction reported by the typesetting device, sequentially controlling the typesetting device to convey the typeset materials to the conveyor belt of the production line body, and prompting each of the filling devices to fill the corresponding materials, wherein at least two of all the filling devices have a hole expansion function; each of the typesetting devices is configured with at least two sets of identical and independent typesetting components;

[0008] If a fault is detected in one of the typesetting components of any of the typesetting devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating;

[0009] If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating.

[0010] In one possible implementation, if a fault is detected in one of the typesetting components of any of the typesetting devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating, including:

[0011] If a fault is detected in one of the typesetting components of any typesetting device, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported;

[0012] Based on the conveying speed of the typesetting device after the failure, the conveying speed of the normally working typesetting device is adaptively adjusted to maintain the continuous operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the production line body is further provided with a plurality of lifting devices;

[0014] If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multiple food filling mechanisms are controlled to continue to operate, including:

[0015] If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported;

[0016] According to the fault location, the conveying speed of the conveyor belt on the main body of the production line and the conveying speed of all typesetting equipment are adaptively adjusted, and the semi-finished products caused by the filling equipment failure are transferred to the recovery device or the circulation device through the lifting device and the return device to maintain the continued operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

[0017] In one possible implementation, except for the filling equipment, the failure rate of the first type of processing equipment is less than a first failure rate threshold.

[0018] In one possible implementation, except for the typesetting equipment, all second-category processing equipment with a failure rate greater than a first preset failure rate is provided with a mirror device; when the multi-type food filling mechanism is operating, the second-category processing equipment with a failure rate greater than or equal to a second failure rate threshold and / or the corresponding mirror device are in operation; wherein, the first failure rate threshold is less than or equal to the second failure rate threshold.

[0019] In a possible implementation, before obtaining the typesetting completion instruction reported by the typesetting device, the method further includes:

[0020] Determine the coreness of each processing equipment based on its failure rate, mean time to repair, downtime, and impact on production capacity; where the impact on production capacity is determined based on the processing objects and processing modes of the current production line.

[0021] According to the core degree of each processing equipment, the production process is optimized and the scheduling and combination of processing equipment are determined.

[0022] The core degree calculation formula is:

[0023] C(E j )=w FR ·FR j +w MTTR MTTR j +w DT ·DT j +w PI PI j ;

[0024] Processing Equipment j The following indicators are included: Failure rate FR j MTTR j , downtime DT j , Production capacity affects PI j ; The weights corresponding to each indicator are: w FR 、w MTTR 、w DT 、w PI .

[0025] In one possible implementation, the control method further includes:

[0026] When it is detected that the current process rhythm of the first type of processing equipment or the second type of processing equipment is greater than the respective calibrated rhythm, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, and at the same time, the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating.

[0027] In one possible implementation, a filling device with a hole-expanding function is provided with a plurality of independent hole-expanding members, each of which is configured to expand the hole of a material having a multi-layer structure or a material having a multi-layer composite structure;

[0028] The filling device is provided with a plurality of independent filling pieces, each of which is configured to collaboratively fill the same material or a plurality of different materials. The filling device is configured to be able to perform classified filling of materials with multi-layer structures or to perform classified filling of materials with multi-layer composite structures.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the reaming component includes one or more reaming tools, cutters or lasers of any shape; the filling device is provided with a replacement device, which is configured to be able to replace each reaming component with a reaming tool, cutter or laser of any shape.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the filling device is provided with a distributor, and the distributor is configured to distribute corresponding fillers to each filling piece according to a set ratio and number of layers.

[0031] In a second aspect, the present application provides a variety of food filling mechanisms, including:

[0032] Production line body;

[0033] A plurality of first-category processing equipment is arranged on the main body of the production line, and a plurality of second-category processing equipment is arranged on both sides of the main body of the production line; the first-category processing equipment includes at least two filling equipment, which are configured to perform a filling process and a process whose process beat is within a preset beat; the second-category processing equipment includes at least three typesetting equipment, which are configured to perform a typesetting process and a process whose process beat is greater than a preset beat; wherein the typesetting equipment and the filling equipment are arranged in sequence according to the order in which the processes are performed;

[0034] and a controller for controlling the operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism, wherein the controller is used to implement the control method as described above.

[0035] In the various food filling solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, a first type of processing equipment is connected in series on the main body of the production line, and a second type of processing equipment is connected in parallel; wherein, the first type of processing equipment includes at least two filling equipment, which are configured to execute the filling process and the process whose process beat is within the preset beat; the second type of processing equipment includes at least three typesetting equipment, which are configured to execute the typesetting process and the process whose process beat is greater than the preset beat; wherein, the typesetting equipment and the filling equipment are arranged in sequence according to the order of process execution; by obtaining the typesetting completion instruction reported by the typesetting equipment, the typesetting equipment is controlled in sequence. The typeset materials are transported to the conveyor belt of the main body of the production line, and each of the filling devices is prompted to fill the corresponding materials, wherein, among all the filling devices, at least two have the function of expanding holes; each of the typesetting devices is configured with at least two sets of identical and independent typesetting components; if a failure is detected in one of the typesetting components of any of the typesetting devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue to operate; if a failure is detected in any of the filling devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue to operate. Based on this, the present application connects the processing equipment of the main process and other simple processes that are completed in one go in series to the main body of the production line, and the processing equipment of the auxiliary processes that are not single processes or other complex processes are connected in parallel to the main body of the production line, which can effectively reduce the risk of processing equipment failure or other workpiece blockage affecting the normal operation of the entire production line or the entire mechanism, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0036] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a partial frame structure of a multi-type food filling mechanism provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of a method for controlling a multi-type food filling mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of a method for controlling a multi-type food filling mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 4 This is a flow chart of a method for controlling a multi-type food filling mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a flow chart of a method for controlling a multi-type food filling mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] Where there are descriptions of “first”, “second”, etc. in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings, the descriptions of “first”, “second”, etc. are only used for descriptive purposes to distinguish different objects, rather than for describing a specific order. They cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features.

[0045] When used herein, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps, units, or modules is not limited to the listed steps, units, or modules, but may optionally include steps, units, or modules not listed, or other steps, units, or modules that are inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0046] The term “and / or” or “and / or” appearing in the text includes three parallel options. Taking “A and / or B” as an example, it includes option A, option B, or options in which both A and B are satisfied.

[0047] References to "embodiments" herein mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0048] The application of the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application can overcome the problems of the food filling mechanism or food filling or production line in the prior art, which are not only bulky in line and equipment volume, but also complex in design and control of processing components, difficult to assemble and disassemble, and unable to meet the high flexibility and versatility required for frequent changes in product types or production of multiple categories of food. When a station is blocked or fails, it will directly affect the operation of the entire mechanism or production line, and thus seriously affect the defects of filling accuracy and filling speed. By connecting the processing equipment of the main process and other simple processes that are completed in one go in series to the main body of the production line, and the processing equipment of the auxiliary processes that are not single processes or other complex processes in parallel to the main body of the production line, the risk of processing equipment failure or other workpiece blockage affecting the normal operation of the entire production line or the entire mechanism can be effectively reduced, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0049] The embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0050] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the partial framework structure of a multi-type food filling mechanism provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0051] A multi-type food filling mechanism includes: a production line main body 1, and a plurality of first-type processing equipment arranged on the production line main body 1 and a plurality of second-type processing equipment arranged on both sides of the production line main body 1; the first-type processing equipment includes at least two filling equipment, which are configured to perform filling processes and processes with process rhythms within a preset rhythm; the second-type processing equipment includes at least three typesetting equipment, which are configured to perform typesetting processes and processes with process rhythms greater than a preset rhythm; wherein, workstation scheduling and assembly can be performed according to the processing mode of the production line main body.

[0052] In this embodiment, the production line body 1 is the core structure of the entire multi-type food filling mechanism system, including a frame, conveyor belt, drive system, etc. that supports and connects various devices. The production line body 1 can support and connect various processing equipment to ensure that the production line can operate continuously and efficiently. The present application connects the processing equipment for the main process and other simple processes completed in one go, that is, the first type of processing equipment, in series to the production line body 1, and the processing equipment for auxiliary processes that are not single processes or other complex processes, that is, the second type of processing equipment, in parallel to the production line body 1. This can effectively reduce the risk of processing equipment failure or other workpiece blockage affecting the normal operation of the entire production line or the entire mechanism, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0053] In the embodiment, the filling device is the core device of the production line body, and the process sequence is clear and fixed for any processing object. The layout device is a peripheral device of the production line body, and the process executed by the layout device is scheduled and combined according to the specific processing object or the change of the processing mode. It can be understood that the complete production line is divided into a production line body and a processing device; the processing device belongs to a core processing device or a peripheral processing device by the working rhythm / complexity / failure rate of the processing device; a preliminary division is made, and the peripheral processing device is adaptively configured / collocated / assembled or scheduled according to the processing mode or the processing process required by the production line, so as to adapt to the specific processing mode or concentrated production, thereby improving the production efficiency / adapting to different production objects.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the production line body 1 can be spliced by multiple production lines, and the conveying belt of the production line body 1 can be designed for one-way conveying or circular conveying. A lifting platform device is arranged at the splicing position of one production line and another production line, and the loading surface of the lifting platform device is configured to be at the same level as the upper surface of the conveying belt of the front and rear production lines. A weighing mechanism is arranged on the top of the lifting platform device, and the weighing mechanism includes a weighing machine, a weighing sensor and a weighing platform. It can be understood that the weighing platform is the loading surface. The weighing sensor is fixedly installed at the top end of the weighing machine, and the weighing platform is fixedly installed at the output end of the weighing sensor. A plurality of installation grooves are formed in the top end of the weighing platform, and a plurality of rollers are rotatably installed on the groove walls of the installation grooves. When the material with the tray is conveyed to the weighing platform, the material on the weighing platform is weighed by the weighing sensor. Due to inertia, the tray and the material are weighed at the same time, and then slide to the conveying belt of the next production line through the rollers on the top end of the weighing platform. It can be understood that the top end of the weighing platform is also provided with a blocking plate, which is used to block the tray and the material on the weighing platform when the lifting operation of the tray and the material is required.

[0055] In a possible embodiment, the first type of processing device includes at least two filling devices configured to execute a filling process and a process with a process rhythm within a preset rhythm. The second type of processing device includes at least three layout devices configured to execute a layout process and a process with a process rhythm greater than the preset rhythm.

[0056] Among them, the layout device and the filling device are sequentially and separately arranged according to the process execution sequence.

[0057] For example, the first type of processing equipment includes a first filling device 11 and a second filling device 12. The layout equipment includes a first layout device 21, a second layout device 22 and a third layout device 23. Along the conveying direction of the conveying belt of the production line body 1, the first layout device 21, the first filling device 11, the second layout device 22, the second filling device 12 and the third layout device 23 are sequentially arranged. The first filling device 11 and the second filling device 12 are arranged on the production line body 1. The first layout device 21, the second layout device 22 and the third layout device 23 are movably arranged on both sides of the production line body 1 according to actual production needs.

[0058] In a possible implementation, the failure rates of the first type of processing equipment except the filling devices are all less than a first failure rate threshold. The second type of processing equipment whose failure rate is greater than the first preset failure rate except the layout devices is provided with a mirror equipment. When the multi-type food filling mechanism is running, the second type of processing equipment and / or the corresponding mirror equipment whose failure rate is greater than or equal to a second failure rate threshold work; wherein the first failure rate threshold is less than or equal to the second failure rate threshold.

[0059] In the embodiment, the first type of processing equipment is configured to perform a filling process and a process whose process beat is within a preset beat, and the failure rate is less than a first failure rate threshold. The remaining equipment is by default configured as the second type of processing equipment. The second type of processing equipment is further configured to perform a layout process and a process whose process beat is greater than a preset beat, and the failure rate of the second type of processing equipment whose failure rate is greater than a first preset failure rate is provided with a mirror equipment. Wherein, the second type of processing equipment and the corresponding mirror equipment whose failure rate is greater than or equal to a second failure rate threshold work, which can work simultaneously, or work in turns, or work individually according to actual production needs.

[0060] Wherein, the mirror equipment generally refers to a standby equipment with the same or similar functions and performances, which can be used when the main equipment fails or is under maintenance. The failure rate of the equipment reaches a certain preset threshold, which means that these devices may be more prone to failure than normal. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the production process, even in the case of higher failure rate, the multi-type food filling mechanism can choose to work in the working mode of simultaneous work, or work in turns, or work individually to manage these devices.

[0061] It can be understood that, unlike the prior art in which equipment failures occur on the production line, fault diagnosis and corresponding fault response strategies are performed, such as restarting the equipment or enabling the backup equipment, in this example the device body and the mirror device work simultaneously. Even if an equipment failure occurs, the operation of the production line can be maintained by adjusting the operating speed of each processing equipment without the need to reorganize the equipment or move the equipment. After the faulty equipment is repaired, it can also be seamlessly connected to the production line. During this process, the production line does not need to stop running and no additional equipment needs to be reorganized.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the production line layout is optimized by considering the risk of equipment failure and process complexity / process rhythm, ensuring that the failure rate risk of core equipment on the production line is minimized and the operation of the entire production line can be maintained without stopping production even if a failure occurs.

[0063] In one possible implementation, the coreness of each processing equipment is determined based on the failure rate, mean repair time, downtime, and production capacity impact of the processing equipment; wherein, the production capacity impact is determined based on the processing objects and processing modes of the current production line body; based on the coreness of each processing equipment, the production process is optimized and the scheduling and combination of the processing equipment are determined.

[0064] The core degree calculation formula is:

[0065] C(E j )=w FR ·FR j +w MTTR MTTR j +w DT ·DT j +w PI PI j ;

[0066] Processing Equipment j The following indicators are included: Failure rate FR j MTTR j , downtime DT j , Production capacity affects PI j ; The weights corresponding to each indicator are: w FR 、w MTTR 、w DT 、w PI .

[0067] In this embodiment, the failure rate (FR) refers to the frequency of failures of each processing equipment within a certain period of time; the mean time to repair (MTTR) refers to the average time it takes for each processing equipment to be repaired and resume normal operation after a failure; the downtime (DT) refers to the total downtime caused by processing equipment failures; and the production capacity impact (PI) refers to the direct impact of each processing equipment on the total production capacity. The direct impact of each processing equipment on the total production capacity can be calculated in various ways, such as by reflecting it as the proportion of its actual output to the total output, reflecting the direct impact on the total production capacity through equipment utilization, or by calculating the impact of each equipment failure on the total production capacity, taking into account the impact of equipment failure time on the entire production line.

[0068] For example, there are three processing equipments configured on the production line. The sample data of these three equipments have the following indicators:

[0069] equipments = (id = "Equipment A", FR = 0.05, MTTR = 2, DT = 100, PI = 80);

[0070] equipments = (id = "Equipment B", FR = 0.02, MTTR = 1.5, DT = 50, PI = 60);

[0071] equipments=(id="Equipment C", FR=0.04, MTTR=2.5, DT=120, PI=70).

[0072] The weights corresponding to the indicators are:

[0073] w FR =0.4, w MTTR =0.3, w DT =0.2, w PI =0.1.

[0074] According to C(E j )=w FR ·FR j +w MTTR MTTR j +w DT ·DT j +w PI PI j , the core degree of each processing equipment is:

[0075] Device A's core degree: 30.20;

[0076] Device B's coreness: 17.60;

[0077] Device C's coreness: 36.70.

[0078] In this embodiment, to further adjust and optimize the production line, the coreness of each piece of processing equipment is calculated to determine which equipment is most critical to the production process. Highly critical equipment deserves greater attention, for example: regular maintenance and upkeep to reduce failure rates; improved repair efficiency to shorten mean time to repair; and optimized production processes and equipment layout tailored to specific processing objects and modes to minimize losses caused by equipment downtime. As the production environment changes and equipment performance improves, the coreness of processing equipment may also change. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly reassess the coreness of processing equipment to determine any changes and promptly adjust the optimization strategy for production processes and production line layout.

[0079] It is understood that filling equipment is used to perform filling processes, specifically including but not limited to filling liquids, powders, pastes, and other forms. For example, for filling liquids such as various beverages and liquid condiments, the filling system is also equipped with a flow meter and an automatic dosing system to ensure consistent filling volume each time. For filling powders such as flour, milk powder, and coffee powder, the filling system is also equipped with a precision weighing device and a dust control system to ensure accurate measurement and a clean operating environment.

[0080] Typesetting equipment is used to perform typesetting processes, such as arranging filled products neatly and placing them in batches, or arranging materials that need to be filled neatly and placing them in batches as needed. Compared to the filling process, the typesetting process has a more complex process cycle or requires higher precision.

[0081] Layout equipment can include multi-size material preparation tables, capable of arranging and placing materials of varying specifications; it can also include automatic trays, automatic sorting machines, and automatic packaging machines. Automatic trays can prepare materials for filling in standard arrangements, while automatic sorting machines are suitable for automatically sorting and arranging products of different types or specifications. They can integrate visual systems for automatic recognition, improving product layout accuracy. Automatic packaging machines package and seal laid-out products and can be equipped with a variety of packaging modes to meet the packaging needs of different products.

[0082] In one possible implementation, a filling device with a hole-expanding function is provided with a plurality of independent hole-expanding members, each of which is configured to expand the hole of a multi-layer structure of a material, or to expand the hole of a multi-layer composite structure of a material; the filling device is provided with a plurality of independent filling members, each of which is configured to collaboratively fill the same material, or a plurality of different materials, and the filling device is configured to be able to perform classified filling of a multi-layer structure of a material, or to classify filling of a multi-layer composite structure of a material. The hole-expanding members include one or more of a shape-variable hole-expanding tool, a cutter, or a laser; the filling device is provided with a replacement device, which is configured to be able to replace each hole-expanding member with a shape-variable hole-expanding tool, a cutter, or a laser. The filling device is provided with a distributor, which is configured to distribute the corresponding filler to each filling member according to a set ratio and number of layers.

[0083] Independent reamer means each reamer is an independently operated unit, meaning they can be individually controlled and adjusted to accommodate different reaming requirements. Multi-layer reamer means the reamer is configured to reamer multiple layers of a material. For example, it's possible to drill or reamer a hole in one layer of a material matrix and then continue drilling or reaming on the next layer without having to move the workpiece. Multi-layer composite reamer also means the reamer can handle multiple layers of composite materials, meaning the material itself is a composite structure that requires drilling or reaming holes of different shapes or sizes at different levels.

[0084] It is understood that tool-based hole enlargement can be switched to laser drilling as needed. In food or packaging filling and hole enlargement scenarios, high-precision laser drilling can accurately create tiny holes in the food structure or packaging structure, not only increasing the speed and uniformity of filling, but also reducing damage to the food structure or packaging structure.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the core equipment / first-class processing equipment on the main body of the production line, such as the filling equipment, and each filling equipment are configured to partially complement each other's functions and partially mirror each other's functions. Based on this, even if one of the filling equipment on the main body of the production line fails, the other filling equipment can complete the two processes at the same time. For example, if the hole expansion is handled by one device and the particle filling is handled by another device, when the hole expansion equipment fails, the particle filling equipment can also complete the two processes of hole expansion and particle filling at the same time until the hole expansion equipment is repaired. Similarly, when a processed product is blocked at a core equipment station on the production line, the blocked part of the processed product can be released to the subsequent processing equipment for sharing the processing.

[0086] In a possible implementation, a plurality of lifting devices 31 are further provided on the production line body 1 .

[0087] In the embodiment, the production line body 1 is provided with upper and lower conveying belts, and the upper and lower conveying belts can be directly transported by the lifting device 31, so that the circulation conveying or exchange transportation of materials can be realized. For example, when a certain work station node of the production line outputs finished products on the upper conveying belt, the finished products can be transported to the lower conveying belt by the nearest lifting device 31, and then transported to the quality inspection station or the packaging station for the next process. When the production line outputs semi-finished products, the semi-finished products need to be transported to the lower conveying belt by the lifting device 31, and then transported back to the corresponding processing equipment for continuous processing until the finished products.

[0088] The upper and lower conveying belts are opposite to each other.

[0089] Please refer to Figure 2-5 , Figure 2-5 are flowcharts of control methods of the multi-type food filling mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0090] Based on the multi-type food filling mechanism and the control method of the multi-type food filling mechanism, at least the following steps are included:

[0091] S100, a layout completion instruction reported by the layout device is acquired, the layout device is sequentially controlled to transport the laid-out materials to the conveying belt of the production line body 1, and each filling device is prompted to fill the corresponding materials. Among all the filling devices, at least two have a reaming function; each layout device is configured with at least two sets of identical and independent layout components.

[0092] In a possible implementation, the failure rates of the first type of processing equipment except the filling device are all less than a first failure rate threshold. The second type of processing equipment with a failure rate greater than a first preset failure rate is provided with a mirror equipment; when the multi-type food filling mechanism is running, the second type of processing equipment with a failure rate greater than or equal to a second failure rate threshold and / or the corresponding mirror equipment works; wherein the first failure rate threshold is less than or equal to the second failure rate threshold.

[0093] In this embodiment, it can be understood that the first type of processing equipment is configured to perform filling processes and processes with process beats within a preset beat, and the failure rate is less than the first failure rate threshold. The remaining equipment is configured as the second type of processing equipment by default. The second type of processing equipment is also configured to perform typesetting processes and processes with process beats greater than a preset beat, and the second type of processing equipment with a failure rate greater than the first preset failure rate is provided with a mirror device. Among them, the second type of processing equipment with a failure rate greater than or equal to the second failure rate threshold and the corresponding mirror device can work simultaneously, or work in turns, or work alone according to actual production needs.

[0094] In this embodiment, the orderly flow of materials from layout to filling is ensured through the operation and configuration of the layout equipment and filling equipment in the automated production line. Sequentially controlling the layout equipment to deliver the laid-out materials to the conveyor belt of the production line main body 1 means controlling the layout equipment to deliver the neatly arranged materials to the conveyor belt of the production line main body 1 in a predetermined order, such as based on time, priority, etc.

[0095] In one possible implementation, before obtaining the typesetting completion instruction reported by the typesetting device, it also includes: determining the coreness of each processing equipment based on the failure rate, average repair time, downtime and production capacity impact of the processing equipment; wherein the production capacity impact is determined based on the processing object and processing mode of the current production line body; according to the coreness of each processing equipment, optimizing the production process and determining the scheduling and combination method of the processing equipment.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the coreness of device A is 30.20, the coreness of device B is 17.60, and the coreness of device C is 36.70. Since device C has the largest coreness, device C is given priority for preventive maintenance or multi-device combination so that when device C fails, the load of other devices can be increased, and other devices can be used to replace device C in the short term to reduce the risk of production suspension caused by its failure and improve overall production stability.

[0097] Assuming that the coreness of devices E and F is similar, work scheduling can be dynamically adjusted for these two devices. For example, when the load on device E increases, the current load on device F can be reduced and some work can be allocated to device G. This dynamic adjustment approach is applicable to the case of at least three typesetting devices in the second category of processing equipment.

[0098] S210: If a fault is detected in one of the typesetting components of any of the typesetting devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating.

[0099] In one possible implementation, step S210 includes:

[0100] S211, if it is detected that a fault occurs in one of the typesetting components of any typesetting device, triggering an alarm signal and reporting the fault location;

[0101] S212: Based on the conveying speed of the typesetting device after the failure, adaptively adjust the conveying speed of the normally working typesetting device to maintain the continuous operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

[0102] In this embodiment, the multi-type food filling mechanism has a fault monitoring function and can detect the working status of the typesetting equipment in real time. When a fault is detected in a set of typesetting components, the system identifies the fault and triggers an alarm signal to notify the operator or maintenance team. In addition, the fault location information is reported to indicate which set of typesetting components in which device has the problem. Since each typesetting device is designed with multiple identical or different typesetting components, it can independently typeset and transport the same material or multiple different materials. Therefore, even if one set of typesetting components of the typesetting device fails, it will not affect the normal operation of other sets of typesetting components. Therefore, it is only necessary to adaptively control the operating speed of other processing equipment to control the continued normal operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

[0103] In this embodiment, since the second-type processing equipment is movably configured on both sides of the production line main body 1, when any second-type processing equipment fails, it will not affect the normal operation of its corresponding mirror image equipment, nor will it affect the normal operation of the first-type processing equipment on the production line main body 1, that is, the multi-type food filling mechanism can continue to operate normally.

[0104] S220: If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating.

[0105] Step S220 includes:

[0106] S221. If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, trigger an alarm signal and report the fault location;

[0107] S222. Based on the fault location, the conveying speed of the conveyor belt on the production line main body 1 and the conveying speed of all typesetting equipment are adaptively adjusted, and the semi-finished products caused by the filling equipment failure are conveyed to the recovery device or the circulation device through the lifting device 31 to maintain the continued operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

[0108] In this embodiment, the first type of processing equipment includes at least two filling devices, and at least two of these filling devices have a hole-expanding function. That is, if any filling device, or any filling device with a hole-expanding function, fails, the operation of the other filling devices is not affected. Based on the fault location, the conveyor speed of the production line main body 1 and the conveyor speed of all typesetting devices are adaptively adjusted. Furthermore, the semi-finished products caused by the filling device failure are transported to a recovery device or a recycling device via the lifting device 31, thereby maintaining the continuous operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

[0109] In one possible implementation, the control method further includes:

[0110] S230: When it is detected that the current process beat of the first type of processing equipment or the second type of processing equipment is greater than the respective calibrated beats, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, and at the same time, the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue to operate.

[0111] In this embodiment, the calibrated cycle time refers to the normal operating cycle time of the processing equipment, or the set operating cycle time. When it is detected that the current process cycle time of the first-category processing equipment or the second-category processing equipment is greater than the respective calibrated cycle time, even though there may not be an obvious fault, the equipment is actually faulty. In this case, the equipment is treated as a faulty device, an alarm signal is triggered, and fault location is reported. Simultaneously, the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the production line.

[0112] In the above-mentioned multi-type food filling scheme, the first type of processing equipment is connected in series on the production line main body 1, and the second type of processing equipment is connected in parallel; wherein, the first type of processing equipment includes at least two filling equipment, which are configured to perform the filling process and the process whose process beat is within the preset beat; the second type of processing equipment includes at least three typesetting equipment, which are configured to perform the typesetting process and the process whose process beat is greater than the preset beat; wherein, the typesetting equipment and the filling equipment are arranged in sequence according to the order of process execution; by obtaining the typesetting completion instruction reported by the typesetting equipment, the typesetting equipment is controlled in sequence to perform the typesetting Good materials are transported to the conveyor belt of the production line main body 1, and each of the filling devices is prompted to fill the corresponding materials, wherein, among all the filling devices, at least two have the function of expanding holes; each of the typesetting devices is configured with at least two sets of identical and independent typesetting components; if a failure is detected in one of the typesetting components of any of the typesetting devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue to operate; if a failure is detected in any of the filling devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue to operate. Based on this, the present application connects the processing equipment of the main process and other simple processes that are completed in one go in series to the production line main body 1, and the processing equipment of the auxiliary processes or other complex processes that are not single processes are connected in parallel to the production line main body 1, which can effectively reduce the risk of processing equipment failure or other workpiece blockage affecting the normal operation of the entire production line or the entire mechanism, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0113] It is understandable that the above-mentioned solution for filling various types of food can also be applied to the filling process of materials of other non-food products, such as the pore expansion filling of flavors and particles in cigarettes.

[0114] Taking the expansion and filling of flavorings and particles in cigarettes as an example, let's assume that the first filling device 11 is a flavor expansion and filling device, the second filling device 12 is a particle filling device, the first layout device 21 is a paper tube layout device, the second layout device 22 is a fixture layout device, and the third layout device 23 is a cotton column layout device. The flavor expansion and filling device and the particle filling device are sequentially installed on the main production line, while the paper tube layout device, fixture layout device, and cotton column layout device are all independent of the main production line, and there are multiple paper tube layout devices, fixture layout devices, and cotton column layout devices.

[0115] For example, if you want to increase the variety and concentration of aroma in cigarettes by expanding and filling the holes with flavorings and pellets, the above mechanism can sequentially arrange and transport paper tubes, fill flavorings, arrange and transport the corresponding hardware and insert them, and then fill pellets and arrange and transport the corresponding cotton columns and insert them. If any of the paper tube arrangement equipment, the hardware arrangement equipment, or the cotton column arrangement equipment fails, the operating status and speed of the other equipment can be adaptively controlled to maintain normal operation of the entire production line.

[0116] Based on the same inventive concept, the present application provides a variety of food filling mechanisms, including:

[0117] Production line main body 1;

[0118] A plurality of first-category processing equipment arranged on the main body 1 of the production line and a plurality of second-category processing equipment arranged on both sides of the main body 1 of the production line; the first-category processing equipment includes at least two filling equipment, which are configured to perform a filling process and a process whose process beat is within a preset beat; the second-category processing equipment includes at least three typesetting equipment, which are configured to perform a typesetting process and a process whose process beat is greater than a preset beat; wherein the typesetting equipment and the filling equipment are arranged in sequence according to the order in which the processes are performed;

[0119] and a controller for controlling the operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism, wherein the controller is used to implement the control method as described above.

[0120] It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the functions or structures contained in the mechanism provided in the embodiments of the present application can be used to execute the method described in the above method embodiments. The specific implementation thereof can refer to the description of the above method embodiments. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0121] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made by using the contents of the present invention description and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a multi-type food filling mechanism, characterized in that: The multi-type food filling mechanism includes: a production line body, and a plurality of first-type processing equipment arranged on the production line body and a plurality of second-type processing equipment arranged on both sides of the production line body; the first-type processing equipment includes at least two filling equipment, which are configured to perform a filling process and a process whose process tact is within a preset tact; the second-type processing equipment includes at least three typesetting equipment, which are configured to perform a typesetting process and a process whose process tact is greater than the preset tact; wherein the typesetting equipment is capable of performing workstation scheduling and assembly according to the processing mode of the production line body; The control method comprises at least the following steps: Obtaining the typesetting completion instruction reported by the typesetting device, sequentially controlling the typesetting device to convey the typeset materials to the conveyor belt of the production line body, and prompting each of the filling devices to fill the corresponding materials, wherein at least two of all the filling devices have a hole expansion function; each of the typesetting devices is configured with at least two sets of identical and independent typesetting components; If a fault is detected in one of the typesetting components of any of the typesetting devices, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating; If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating.

2. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: If a fault is detected in one of the typesetting components of any typesetting device, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, and at the same time, the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue to operate, including: If a fault is detected in one of the typesetting components of any typesetting device, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported; Based on the conveying speed of the typesetting device after the failure, the conveying speed of the normally working typesetting device is adaptively adjusted to maintain the continuous operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

3. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main body of the production line is also provided with a number of lifting devices; If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, while the multiple food filling mechanisms are controlled to continue to operate, including: If any of the filling devices is detected to have a fault, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported; According to the fault location, the conveying speed of the conveyor belt on the main body of the production line and the conveying speed of all typesetting equipment are adaptively adjusted, and the semi-finished products caused by the filling equipment failure are transported to the recovery device or the circulation device through the lifting device to maintain the continued operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism.

4. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: Except for the filling equipment, the failure rate of the first type of processing equipment is less than the first failure rate threshold.

5. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: In addition to the typesetting equipment, the second-category processing equipment with a failure rate greater than the first preset failure rate is all provided with a mirror device; when the multi-type food filling mechanism is in operation, the second-category processing equipment with a failure rate greater than or equal to the second failure rate threshold and / or the corresponding mirror device are in operation; wherein, the first failure rate threshold is less than or equal to the second failure rate threshold.

6. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filling device with a hole-expanding function is provided with a plurality of independent hole-expanding members, each hole-expanding member of the filling device is configured to expand the hole of a material with a multi-layer structure, or expand the hole of a material with a multi-layer composite structure; The filling device is provided with a plurality of independent filling pieces, each of which is configured to collaboratively fill the same material or a plurality of different materials. The filling device is configured to be able to perform classified filling of materials with multi-layer structures or to perform classified filling of materials with multi-layer composite structures.

7. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The reaming components include one or more reaming tools, cutters or lasers of any shape; the filling device is provided with a replacement device, which is configured to be able to replace each reaming component with a reaming tool, cutter or laser of any shape.

8. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The filling device is provided with a distributor configured to distribute corresponding fillers to each filling piece according to a set ratio and number of layers.

9. The control method of a multi-type food filling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control method further includes: When it is detected that the current process rhythm of the first type of processing equipment or the second type of processing equipment is greater than the respective calibrated rhythm, an alarm signal is triggered and the fault location is reported, and at the same time, the multi-type food filling mechanism is controlled to continue operating.

10. A multi-type food filling mechanism, characterized in that: include: Production line body; A plurality of first-category processing equipment is arranged on the main body of the production line, and a plurality of second-category processing equipment is arranged on both sides of the main body of the production line; the first-category processing equipment includes at least two filling equipment, which are configured to perform a filling process and a process whose process beat is within a preset beat; the second-category processing equipment includes at least three typesetting equipment, which are configured to perform a typesetting process and a process whose process beat is greater than a preset beat; wherein the typesetting equipment and the filling equipment are arranged in sequence according to the order in which the processes are performed; And a controller for controlling the operation of the multi-type food filling mechanism, wherein the controller is used to implement the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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