Method for controlling a conveying device and conveying system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a conveyor device (1) for conveying articles (2), the conveyor device (1) comprising a conveyor belt (3) having a conveying surface (5), a drive motor (4) and a control unit (6). The control method is characterized by at least comprising the following steps: measuring a roughness factor (R) of the conveying surface (5); transmitting the measurement result to a control unit (6); generating, by means of the control unit (6), an instruction for adjusting the speed of the conveyor belt (3) in the form of a speed instruction as a function of the measured roughness coefficient (R); and transmitting the command to the conveying device (1). The present application also relates to a conveying installation (100) implementing the method of the present application.

Description

Field of the technology

[0001] This application relates to the field of methods and devices for conveying articles. The subject matter of this application is a method for controlling a conveying device and a conveying facility for implementing the method. Background technology

[0002] In the field of this application, articles such as containers or cardboard boxes are supported on a conveyor belt and moved by the conveyor belt.

[0003] The articles are preferably containers of the bottle or vial type. Without limitation, this type of container is designed to contain fluids, liquids, powders or granules, especially fluids, liquids, powders or granules of the food or cosmetic type.

[0004] In a known manner, on an industrial production line, especially in a packaging facility, containers can be subjected to a variety of different continuous processes, such as container manufacturing (e.g., during the stretch blow molding or plastic injection operations of bottles made of plastic material), followed by filling, then capping and labeling. After different processing operations, the containers are batch-packaged. Thus, each batch includes a plurality of containers assembled in groups, for example, according to a matrix arrangement, usually having a generally parallelepiped form that is square or rectangular according to columns and rows.

[0005] Articles are moved within a packaging production line for different operations such as filling, processing, packaging, etc. For this purpose, between an upstream processing station and a downstream processing station, articles, especially containers, are conveyed by a conveying device within a conveying facility.

[0006] This type of conveying device typically consists of one or more endless conveyor belts supported by guiding devices and driven by a drive motor.

[0007] Then, the production of finished containers and the production of batches of containers require high conveying speeds in order to be continuously supplied to different stations. Thus, each station receives the articles to be processed without a stop time during the processing of the articles. In particular, when it comes to containers, the articles are transported vertically, i.e., the articles are supported with their bottoms facing downwards.

[0008] In certain areas of the conveying facility, the articles do not have to flow on a linear conveying path. The conveying path can include bends and guiding elements. Articles, especially containers, can also pass continuously through different configurations, for example, from a so-called bulk configuration to a row or line configuration, and from a row or line configuration to a so-called bulk configuration. Such configuration changes can cause drops or blockages.

[0009] It is also well known that the friction between the surface in the movement of the conveying device and the article to be conveyed significantly affects the stability of the article on the conveyor, which results in a high possibility of the article falling and significantly reduces the performance of the conveying device.

[0010] Therefore, it is desirable that the conveyor belt of the conveying device has a predetermined allowable roughness value, because in the case where the roughness value is too high or too low, problems may be caused during the conveying speed, the path of the article (especially the container), or the guiding element, such as the container falling. Thus, when the roughness value is too low or too high, it directly affects the efficiency of the conveying device.

[0011] In addition, the friction value between the article and the surface of the conveyor belt itself depends on multiple parameters, such as the quality of the conveyor belt and the nature of the article to be conveyed.

[0012] Therefore, in the field of the present application, it is necessary to control the roughness value of the conveyor belt to ensure the efficient conveyance of articles through the conveying device in the facility for packaging articles.

[0013] It is known to use a lubricating device along the conveying device in the conveying facility to be able to correct the roughness of the conveyor belt. The disadvantage of this type of correction method is that it requires a complex installation and startup process. In addition, this solution is expensive, and the lubrication is not always effective, or it takes time before the roughness coefficient reaches an appropriate value.

[0014] Before the roughness coefficient reaches the allowable value or the optimal value, it is possible that the article (especially the container) is not reliably transported and topples over on the conveyor belt, which results in a significant loss of the production line performance.

[0015] On the contrary, it is possible that the conveyor belt is over-lubricated. In this case, the article to be conveyed cannot obtain sufficient adhesion and is no longer transported at the required speed but at a much lower speed. This also results in a decline in the production line performance.

[0016] These different defects also tend to increase the power consumption of the system driving the conveyor, increase the wear of the conveyor belt, and increase the overall noise level of the conveyor in operation. Summary of the Invention

[0017] Therefore, the object of the present application is to provide a method for controlling a conveying device, which enables direct intervention in the efficiency of the conveying device when the value of the roughness coefficient is different from the appropriate value for the optimal conveyance of the article.

[0018] For this purpose, the present application proposes to adjust the conveying speed of the conveying device according to the measured roughness coefficient value. Thus, the conveyance of the article is effectively ensured without waiting for the improvement of the roughness of the conveyor belt.

[0019] To this end, the subject matter of the present application is first of all a method for controlling a conveying device for conveying articles, said conveying device comprising a conveyor belt provided with a conveying surface, a drive motor and a control unit.

[0020] According to the present application, the method is characterized by at least the following steps: - Measuring the roughness coefficient of the conveying surface; - Transmitting the measurement result to the control unit; - Based on the measured roughness coefficient, generating, by the control unit, an instruction for adjusting the speed of the conveyor belt in the form of a speed instruction; and - Transmitting the instruction to the conveying device.

[0021] In some embodiments, the step of generating the instruction comprises the following additional sub-steps: comparing the measurement result of the roughness coefficient with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient, and if the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient and the value of the minimum roughness coefficient and / or the value of the maximum roughness coefficient is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit generates an instruction for adjusting the speed.

[0022] According to a possible additional feature, the control unit generates a speed instruction defined by a proportionality coefficient applied to the measurement result of the roughness coefficient.

[0023] In some embodiments, when the measurement result of the roughness coefficient is greater than a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient, the control unit generates an instruction in the form of an instruction for reducing the speed of the conveyor belt.

[0024] In some embodiments, when the measurement result of the roughness coefficient is less than a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient, the control unit generates an instruction in the form of an instruction for increasing the speed of the conveyor belt.

[0025] According to a possible additional feature, the control method comprises an additional step of lubricating the conveying surface of the conveyor belt by means of at least one lubrication system, wherein the control unit is connected to the at least one lubrication system and generates a lubrication instruction in the form of a lubrication instruction based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient.

[0026] In some embodiments, the step of generating the lubrication instruction comprises the following additional sub-steps: comparing the measurement result of the roughness coefficient with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient, and if the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient and the value of the minimum roughness coefficient and / or the value of the maximum roughness coefficient is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit generates a lubrication instruction.

[0027] According to possible additional features, the control method includes an additional step of cleaning the conveying surface of the conveyor belt by means of a cleaning system, wherein the control unit is connected to the cleaning system and generates a cleaning instruction in the form of a cleaning command based on the measured roughness coefficient.

[0028] In some embodiments, the step of generating the cleaning instruction includes the following additional sub-steps: comparing the measurement result of the roughness coefficient with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient, and if the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient and the value of the minimum roughness coefficient and / or the value of the maximum roughness coefficient is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit generates a cleaning instruction.

[0029] The subject matter of the present application also relates to a conveying facility, which includes a conveying device designed for conveying articles, the conveying device including a conveyor belt provided with a conveying surface, a drive motor and a control unit, and at least one sensor.

[0030] The conveying facility is characterized in that the control unit generates an instruction for adjusting the speed in the form of a speed command of the conveyor belt based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient by at least one sensor, and the control unit includes a communication channel for transmitting the instruction to the conveying device.

[0031] Advantageously, the conveying facility implements the method as described above.

[0032] According to possible additional features, the control unit includes: storage means in which predetermined values of a minimum roughness coefficient and a maximum roughness coefficient are recorded; and comparison means for comparing the roughness coefficient measured by the sensor with the recorded roughness coefficient values.

[0033] In some embodiments, the conveying facility includes at least one lubrication system for lubricating the conveying surface of the conveyor belt, the at least one lubrication system including a source of lubricant and an applicator for the lubricant, and the at least one lubrication system can receive a lubrication instruction in the form of a lubrication command from the control unit based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient by the sensor.

[0034] According to possible additional features, the conveying facility includes a cleaning system for cleaning the conveying surface of the conveyor belt, and the cleaning system can receive an instruction in the form of a cleaning command from the control unit based on the roughness coefficient measured by the sensor.

[0035] The present application also relates to a computer program product including an instruction sequence, which, when the program is executed by a computer, guides the computer to implement the steps of the control method as described above.

[0036] Finally, the present application relates to a data processing device including means for implementing the steps of the above method. Description of the Drawings

[0037] The present application will be better understood from the following description, which is based on possible embodiments and is explained by way of non-limiting illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 An embodiment of a method for controlling a conveying device is schematically shown, the conveying device including a conveyor belt and a control unit; Figure 2 An embodiment of a conveying facility including a conveying device, a lubrication system, and a cleaning system is schematically shown. Detailed Embodiments

[0038] In the following description, elements having the same structure or similar functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0039] The present application first relates to a method for controlling a conveying device 1.

[0040] Figure 1 An embodiment of the method of control by a control unit 6 is shown.

[0041] The conveying device 1 includes a conveyor belt 3, a drive motor 4, and a control unit 6. The conveying device 1 is designed to convey an article 2 on a conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3 by means of the drive motor 4. The article 2 is, for example, a container of the bottle or can type and is moved by the conveyor belt 3 on which it is supported. Containers of this type are non-exhaustively designed to contain fluids, liquids, powders, or granules, in particular fluids, liquids, powders, or granules of the food or cosmetic type.

[0042] In a packaging production line, as Figure 2 shown, the conveying device 1 conveys the article 2 from an upstream processing station to a downstream processing station, in which different types of operations will be performed on the article 2, such as filling, labeling, packaging, etc. The transfer path between different processing stations can be linear or non-linear.

[0043] The control method according to the present application at least includes the following steps: - Performing a measurement of at least one roughness coefficient R of the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3; - Transmitting the measurement result to the control unit 6 of the conveying device 1; - Generating, by the control unit 6 based on the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R, an instruction for adjusting the speed in the form of a speed instruction for the conveyor belt 3; and - Transmitting the instruction to the conveying device 1.

[0044] The roughness coefficient R can be measured at different time intervals or can also be measured continuously. In particular, such measurement can be carried out by one or more sensors 9, in particular by sensors that measure the roughness coefficient R of the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3, and the sensors 9 can be positioned at different positions of the conveying device 1.

[0045] Advantageously, the roughness coefficient R is measured by a sensor, for example, the coefficient of friction is measured by the sensor 9.

[0046] In some embodiments, the roughness coefficient R is measured manually, for example, the roughness coefficient R is measured manually by using a spring dynamometer.

[0047] In other words, the roughness coefficient R is measured by direct measurement, for example, by the sensor 9 for measuring the coefficient of friction; or the roughness coefficient R is measured by indirect measurement, and the indirect measurement is obtained by manual measurement.

[0048] The roughness coefficient R is also a parameter that can be estimated, especially manually estimated. In fact, the roughness coefficient R depends on different parameters, such as the material of the article 2 to be conveyed and the characteristics of the conveyor belt 3. Conventional methods for evaluating the value of this coefficient are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0049] Therefore, "measurement of the roughness coefficient R" means direct measurement, for example, by the sensor 9 for measuring the coefficient of friction, or means indirect measurement obtained by manual measurement.

[0050] In addition, the roughness coefficient R corresponds to or depends on the coefficient of static friction or the adhesion coefficient, hereinafter referred to as "COF". COF is usually defined as a value according to which two surfaces, usually made of different materials, slide relative to each other. A low COF means that the attachment of the article 2 to the surface of the conveyor belt is weak.

[0051] A low COF indicates that the conveying surface is smoother, that is, the conveying surface provides less resistance to sliding. In particular, when the COF is too low, the article 2 to be conveyed is no longer conveyed at the desired speed, which disrupts the supply from the upstream processing station to the downstream processing station and the efficiency of the packaging production line. On the other hand, too high a COF increases the risk of the container or article 2 to be conveyed falling.

[0052] Therefore, in order to ensure the optimal conveyance of the article 2 and maintain the efficiency of the packaging production line, it is necessary to monitor the value of the COF, and thus it is necessary to monitor the value of the roughness coefficient of the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3 of the conveying device 1.

[0053] According to the direct or indirect measurement of the roughness coefficient R of the conveying surface 5, the control unit 6 will generate an instruction for adjusting the speed of the conveyor belt 3.

[0054] In particular, the adjustment instruction is in the form of a speed instruction.

[0055] In some embodiments, after comparing the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R of the conveying surface 5 with a predetermined optimum value of the roughness coefficient R, the control unit calculates the speed instruction.

[0056] In other words, the predetermined optimum value corresponds to an allowable value. The allowable value is the value of the roughness coefficient R at which the conveying device 1 operates optimally without failure. In this case, the conveyor belt moves the product at a nominal speed corresponding to the normal operation of the production line. Advantageously, the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3 is recorded in the control unit 6, the storage device 10 or an independent server by an operator or by a speed measurement, for example, by a speed sensor.

[0057] According to an additional feature, for one or more conveying devices 1, the roughness coefficient R is measured, and the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R is compared with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin.

[0058] According to an additional feature, for one or more conveying devices 1, the roughness coefficient R is measured, and the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R is compared with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax.

[0059] In some embodiments, for one or more conveying devices 1, the roughness coefficient R is measured, and the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R is compared with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax.

[0060] The values of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax correspond to predetermined allowable values. These values can be recorded by the control unit 6 in the storage device 10, or these values can be recorded in an independent server. After this comparison, the control unit 6 will generate an instruction for adjusting the speed of the conveyor belt 3. In other words, when the measured roughness coefficient R of the conveying surface 5 is outside the range of the predetermined values of the roughness coefficients Rmin, Rmax, the control unit 6 sends a speed instruction to the conveying device 1. This modification of the initial speed instruction enables the good efficiency of the conveying device 1 to be maintained, and thus the good efficiency of the packaging production line to be maintained. In fact, for a class of articles 2, or for a class of downstream processing stations, when the roughness coefficient deviates from the allowable value or the range of the values of Rmin, Rmax, this directly affects the circulation flow of the articles 2. A reduction in the efficiency of the conveying device 1 can, for example, lead to a high risk of the articles 2 falling, or also lead to a considerable slowdown of the conveying flow.

[0061] In some embodiments, multiple values of a minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and a maximum roughness coefficient Rmax can be predefined, each of these values being determined in advance according to the category of the article and / or according to the type of processing that the article being transported will undergo at a downstream processing station.

[0062] In particular, the type of article 2 is defined by the nature of article 2, for example containers of types such as vials, bottles, cans, cartons, cardboard boxes. The type of article 2 can also be defined according to the material of article 2 (glass, PET, cardboard) or their shape or weight.

[0063] For example, for a first type of article 2 related to plastic bottles, the values of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax are determined in advance. For a second type of article 2 related to cans, other values of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax are predefined.

[0064] All these values can be directly recorded in the control unit 6 in the storage device 10 or recorded in an independent server.

[0065] The downstream processing unit can specifically be a blowing station, a filling station, a packaging station or any other type of station present on a packaging production line.

[0066] In some embodiments, a speed instruction is associated with the value of the roughness coefficient R. Preferably, the associated speed instruction is stored by the control unit 6 in the storage device 10 or in an independent server. For example, a speed instruction corresponding to the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3 is associated with a value of the roughness coefficient R that lies between the value of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and the value of the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax.

[0067] Advantageously, the control unit includes a human-machine interface. For example, an operator of a packaging production line can obtain different instructions through the control unit 6 or can also obtain information related to the packaging production line, such as the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3, the type of article 2 to be processed, etc.

[0068] For example, the values of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax are obtained by an operator of a packaging production line including one or more conveying devices 1 via the human-machine interface of the control unit 6.

[0069] According to a possible additional feature, the control unit 6 generates a speed instruction in the form of a speed instruction that is defined according to a proportionality coefficient applied to the measured roughness coefficient R. This type of proportionality coefficient is determined in advance and can be recorded in the storage device 10 of the control unit 6.

[0070] Advantageously, depending on different ranges of values of the proportionality coefficient, the control unit 6 applies different proportionality coefficients to the measured roughness coefficient R. Different ranges of allowable values of the proportionality coefficient can be defined for a single category of articles 2, for different categories of articles 2, or also for different downstream processing stations.

[0071] In some embodiments, when the measured roughness coefficient R is within the allowable value range, the control unit 6 does not generate a speed adjustment command in the form of a speed command.

[0072] According to a possible additional feature, when the measured roughness coefficient R is within the allowable value range, the control unit 6 generates a speed command in the form of a speed command under normal conditions of the packaging production line, wherein the speed command corresponds to the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3.

[0073] In some embodiments, when the measured roughness coefficient R is greater than a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax, the control unit 6 generates a speed adjustment command in the form of a command for reducing the speed of the conveyor belt 3. In fact, in such a configuration, since the article 2 is more vulnerable to the risk of falling or tilting, it is advantageous to reduce the speed of the conveyor belt 3 before the measured roughness coefficient R returns to its normal value.

[0074] In some embodiments, when the measured roughness coefficient R is below a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin, the control unit 6 generates a speed adjustment command in the form of a command for increasing the speed of the conveyor belt 3. In fact, in such a configuration, the sliding between the conveyed article 2 and the conveying surface 5 is too large, and the article 2 no longer advances, or only advances at a very low speed, where this speed no longer corresponds to the speed parameterized for the conveyor belt 3, which slows down the conveying flow of the article 2. Then, it is advantageous to transmit an acceleration command for the conveyor belt 3 to the conveying device 1 in order to maintain the efficiency of the conveying device 1 and thus the efficiency of the packaging production line.

[0075] According to an additional feature, the control unit 6 records the measured value of the roughness coefficient R in the memory device 10; and after performing the measurement, it transmits an adjustment command to the conveying device 1 for conveying. In this way, when a new measurement of the roughness coefficient R shows a new deviation, i.e., a difference between a previous measurement and the new measurement performed, the control unit 6 transmits a speed adjustment command together with an updated speed command to the conveying device 1. In the case where the new measurement of the performed roughness coefficient R corresponds to the previous measurement, the control unit 6 does not provide a new speed adjustment command in the form of a speed command to the conveying device 1.

[0076] In some embodiments, the method for controlling the conveying device 1 includes an additional step of lubricating the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. This additional step is performed by at least one lubrication system 7, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown. The control unit 6 is connected to the at least one lubrication system 7 and generates a lubrication command in the form of a lubrication instruction based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R. The control unit 6 can be connected by wired technology or wireless technology, or can also be connected through a dedicated communication channel.

[0077] The lubrication instruction is generally in the form of a programmed lubrication cycle, which defines the frequency of lubrication, the amount of lubricant 71 to be applied to the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3, and the duration of the cycle, etc. The control unit 6 can, for example, provide a lubrication instruction for changing the dose of the lubricant 71 to be applied by the applicator 72 by transmitting an instruction indicating the time to open and / or close the valve of the source 7 of the lubricant 71 to the lubrication system 7. This control method can be applied to all known lubrication systems 7, especially dry, liquid, gas, or hybrid lubrication systems. The applicator 72 can be in the form of a nozzle, a brush, or any type of known applicator 72 for the lubricant 71. Thus, by measuring the roughness coefficient R, the control unit 6 will generate a lubrication instruction, so that the lubrication cycle can be adapted to the requirements of the packaging production line to maintain a high efficiency level.

[0078] Advantageously, the step of generating the lubrication instruction includes an additional pre-step: comparing the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax. Then, if the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R and the value of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit 6 generates a lubrication adjustment instruction.

[0079] The generation of the lubrication instruction by the control unit 6 can also be obtained from a first comparison of the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax for generating a speed adjustment instruction. In this case, the control unit 6 generates an instruction based on the comparison, which is an instruction for adjusting the speed and an instruction for lubrication.

[0080] According to an additional feature, the values of the minimum allowable roughness coefficient Rmin and the maximum allowable roughness coefficient Rmax depend on the type of the article 2 and / or on the type of downstream processing that the article 2 will undergo.

[0081] Advantageously, the allowable difference compared to the predetermined values Rmin and Rmax can be defined according to the category of the article 2 and / or the type of the downstream processing station.

[0082] The fact that the lubrication instruction can be generated based on the measured roughness coefficient R allows the speed of the conveying device 1 to return to normal. In fact, the step of adjusting the speed is necessary and very beneficial because it enables a response to be made without waiting for the measurement confirmation of the roughness coefficient R to indicate a problem. However, the problem still needs to be addressed, and it is ensured that the roughness coefficient R returns to the allowable range of values Rmin, Rmax.

[0083] Thus, it is advantageous that the lubrication instruction sent by the control unit 6 enables the measured value of the allowable roughness coefficient R to be regained. In this case, i.e., when the measured roughness coefficient R is within the allowable numerical range, the control unit 6 sends a new adjustment instruction in the form of a speed instruction, where the speed instruction corresponds to the nominal conveying speed, i.e., the initial value of the conveying speed of the conveyor belt 3. In this way, the conveying device 1 operates normally. Therefore, the efficiency of the conveying device 1, and thus the efficiency of the packaging production line, is maintained and remains compliant.

[0084] In some embodiments, the method for controlling the conveying device 1 includes an additional step of cleaning the conveyor belt 5 by a cleaning system 8, where the control unit 6 is connected to the system 8 for cleaning the conveyor belt 6.

[0085] The control unit 6 can be connected to the cleaning system 8 by wired technology or wireless technology or through a dedicated communication channel.

[0086] The control unit 6 generates a cleaning instruction in the form of a cleaning command based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R. On the conveying device 1, the cleaning cycle is usually scheduled outside the operating time of the packaging production line. However, it is also possible that the cleaning step has to be performed in advance because the operation of the packaging production line is severely affected.

[0087] Advantageously, the control unit 6 will generate a cleaning instruction based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R and transmit this instruction to the cleaning system 8. This will particularly be the case when, despite the adjustment of lubrication to improve the roughness coefficient R, this coefficient still remains outside the allowable value range.

[0088] Advantageously, particularly in this case, but not only in this case, the control unit 6 can then decide to send an instruction for adjusting the speed to the conveying device 1 in order to maintain the efficiency of the production line and / or send a cleaning instruction. The cleaning instruction can, for example, be in the form of a pre-programmed cleaning of the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3, or the cleaning program to be executed can also be modified. "Cleaning" means rinsing or cleaning using a cleaning product.

[0089] Advantageously, the step of generating the cleaning instruction includes an additional preliminary step: comparing the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax. Then, if the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R and the value of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or the value of the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit 6 generates a cleaning instruction.

[0090] The generation of the lubrication instruction by the control unit 6 can also be obtained from a first comparison of the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax for generating an instruction for adjusting the speed. In this case, the control unit 6 generates an instruction based on the comparison, where the instruction is an instruction for adjusting the speed and a cleaning instruction.

[0091] Advantageously, based on the comparison of the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax, if the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient R and the value of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or the value of the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit 6 generates different instructions, and the instructions are speed adjustment instructions, lubrication instructions, and cleaning instructions. It can be understood that these different instructions can be transmitted to the conveying device 1 simultaneously or sequentially. Preferably, the instruction for adjusting the conveying speed is sent first.

[0092] According to an additional feature, the values of the minimum allowable roughness coefficient Rmin and the maximum allowable roughness coefficient Rmax depend on the type of the article 2 and / or on the type of downstream processing that the article 2 will undergo.

[0093] Advantageously, the allowable difference between the predetermined values Rmin and Rmax can be defined according to the category of the article 2 and the type of the downstream processing station.

[0094] According to a possible additional feature, one or more steps of the method for controlling the conveying device 1 are implemented by a computer.

[0095] This application also relates to the conveying facility 100 as Figure 2 shown. The conveying facility 100 includes a conveying device 1, and the conveying device 1 is designed to convey the article 2. As described above, the conveying device 1 includes a conveyor belt 3 provided with a conveying surface 5, a drive motor 4, and a control unit 6.

[0096] The conveying facility 100 further includes one or more sensors 9 for measuring the roughness coefficient R, and the one or more sensors 9 are in the form of at least one sensor 9 for measuring the friction coefficient, for example.

[0097] The conveying facility 100 is characterized in that the control unit 6 generates a speed adjustment instruction in the form of a speed instruction for the conveyor belt 3 according to the roughness coefficient R measured by the sensor 9, and the control unit 6 includes a communication channel 60 for transmitting the instruction to the conveying device 1.

[0098] The communication channel 60 can be wired or wireless. The control unit 6 can also be connected to an independent server.

[0099] According to a possible additional feature, the control unit 6 includes: a storage device 10 storing predetermined values of a minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and a maximum roughness coefficient Rmax; and a comparison device 11 for comparing the roughness coefficient R measured by the sensor 9 with the values of the roughness coefficients Rmin and Rmax.

[0100] In particular, depending on the category of the article 2 conveyed by the conveying device 1 or the type of the downstream processing station, different values of the allowable roughness coefficients Rmin and Rmax are stored in the storage device 10 or in an independent server.

[0101] In some embodiments, the conveying facility includes at least one system 7 for lubricating the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. The lubrication system 7 includes a source 70 of lubricant 71 and receives a lubrication instruction in the form of a lubrication instruction from the control unit 6 based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R by the sensor 9.

[0102] In some embodiments, the conveying facility includes a system 8 for cleaning the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. The control method can be applied to all known cleaning systems 8.

[0103] Preferably, the cleaning system 8 includes: at least one nozzle connected to a main channel; a dispensing unit or tank for supplying at least one cleaning liquid and / or washing liquid to the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one nozzle is designed to direct the cleaning liquid and / or washing liquid to a portion of the conveying surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. Additionally, the cleaning system 8 receives an instruction in the form of a cleaning instruction from the control unit 6 based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R by the sensor 9.

[0104] Figure 2 An embodiment in which the conveying facility includes a lubrication system 7 and a cleaning system 8 is shown.

[0105] The present application also relates to a computer program product including a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a computer, guides the computer to implement the steps of the method for controlling the conveying device 1 as described above.

[0106] The present application also relates to a data processing device including means for implementing the steps of the above control method.

[0107] Finally, the present application relates to a computer-readable recording medium including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the steps of the method for controlling the conveying device 1 as described above.

[0108] The method for controlling the conveying device 1 according to the present application enables the conveying speed of this type of conveying device 1 to be adjusted when the friction conditions of the article 2 to be conveyed are not optimal, which advantageously enables the high efficiency of the conveying device 1 to be maintained and, as a whole, on a larger scale of the packaging production line. In particular, the control method can compensate for the fact that if the roughness coefficient is too high, the article 2 will not advance at a prescribed speed, and in order to obtain the same conveying flow of the article 2, it is necessary to send a new speed instruction to the conveying device 1.

[0109] Although the above description is based on specific embodiments, it in no way limits the scope of the present application and can be modified, in particular, by the substitution of technical equivalents or by different combinations of some or all of the features described above.

Claims

1. A control method for a conveying device (1) for conveying an article (2), the conveying device (1) comprising a conveyor belt (3) provided with a conveying surface (5), a drive motor (4), and a control unit (6), characterized in that, The control method at least includes the following steps: Measure the roughness coefficient (R) of the conveying surface (5); Transmit the measurement result to the control unit (6); According to the measured roughness coefficient (R), generate an instruction for adjusting the speed of the conveyor belt (3) in the form of a speed instruction through the control unit (6); and Transmit the instruction to the conveying device (1).

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein The step of generating the instruction includes the following additional sub-steps: Compare the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax), If the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) and the value of the predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or the value of the predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax) is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit (6) generates an instruction for adjusting the speed.

3. The control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The control unit (6) generates a speed instruction defined by a proportional coefficient applied to the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R).

4. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, When the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) is greater than the predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax), the control unit (6) generates an instruction in the form of an instruction for reducing the speed of the conveyor belt (3).

5. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, When the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) is less than the predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin), the control unit (6) generates an instruction in the form of an instruction for increasing the speed of the conveyor belt (3).

6. The control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The method further includes the following additional step: lubricate the conveying surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3) through at least one lubrication system (7), the control unit (6) is connected to the at least one lubrication system (7), and generates a lubrication instruction in the form of a lubrication instruction based on the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R).

7. The control method according to claim 6, wherein The step of generating the lubrication instruction includes the following additional sub-steps: Compare the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax), If the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) and the value of the predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or with the value of the predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax) is greater than a determined threshold, the control unit (6) generates a lubrication instruction.

8. The control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control method further includes the following additional step: clean the conveying surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3) through a cleaning system (8), wherein the control unit (6) is connected to the cleaning system (8), and generates a cleaning instruction in the form of a cleaning instruction according to the measured roughness coefficient (R).

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of generating the cleaning instruction includes the following additional sub-steps: Compare the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax), If the difference between the measurement result of the roughness coefficient (R) and the value of the predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or the value of the predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax) is greater than a determined threshold value, the control unit (6) generates a cleaning instruction.

10. A conveying facility (100), comprising: A conveying device (1) designed to convey articles (2), the conveying device (1) including a conveyor belt (3) provided with a conveying surface (5), a drive motor (4) and a control unit (6); At least one sensor (9), The conveying facility (100) is characterized in that The control unit (6) generates an instruction for adjusting the speed in the form of a speed instruction for the conveyor belt (3) according to the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) by the at least one sensor (9), and the control unit (6) includes a communication channel (60) for transmitting the instruction to the conveying device (1).

11. The conveying facility (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The control unit (6) includes: A storage device (10) in which the values of a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and a maximum roughness coefficient Rmax are recorded; and A comparison device (11) that compares the roughness coefficient (R) measured by the sensor (9) with the recorded values of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax.

12. The conveying facility (100) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The conveying facility (100) includes at least one lubrication system (7) for lubricating the conveying surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3), the at least one lubrication system (7) including a source (70) of lubricant (71) and an applicator (72) for the lubricant (71), and the at least one lubrication system (7) can receive a lubrication instruction in the form of a lubrication instruction from the control unit (6) based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) by the sensor (9).

13. The conveying facility (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The conveying facility (100) includes a cleaning system (8) for cleaning the conveying surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3), and the cleaning system (8) can receive an instruction in the form of a cleaning instruction from the control unit (6) based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) by the sensor (9).

14. A computer program product including an instruction sequence, which, when the program is executed by a computer, guides the computer to implement the steps of the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

15. A data processing device, including means for implementing the steps of the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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