Control system

Abstract

Control system (100) for containers (3), wherein the containers (3) each have a container opening (5) for supplying and removing stored goods, wherein each container (3) has a sensor unit (10) comprising at least one sensor for detecting environmental influences, a processor (13) for evaluating sensor signals, and a contactless interface unit (14), characterized in that each container (3) has a dip tube (4) opening at the container opening (5), that the dip tube (4) can be closed at its opening at the container opening (5) with a dip tube closure (9), and that the sensor unit (10) is arranged in the dip tube closure (9).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control system and a method for operating a control system.

[0002] The control system is used for containers generally used for storing goods, especially liquids. The container generally has an opening through which the stored goods can be removed from or added to the container.

[0003] In particular, the containers can be part of a withdrawal system.

[0004] Such a withdrawal system is known from EP 0 977 702 B1. This withdrawal system is used for filling and emptying containers, in particular barrels, filled with liquid chemicals. The containers each have a dip tube through which liquids stored in the container can be withdrawn and through which liquids can be supplied to the container. The withdrawal system has a withdrawal head that is connected to the dip tube of the respective container.

[0005] The extraction head then removes liquid from the container or, if necessary, adds liquid to it. A pump is connected to the extraction head to perform the extraction or addition of liquid.

[0006] Once the removal or supply of liquid is complete, the container opening of the respective container is closed with a sealing agent.

[0007] This makes the container ready for transport. The container can then be transported, for example, to a site where the fluid is needed for work processes or to a storage location.

[0008] One problem here is that during transport the containers are exposed to environmental influences that can lead to impairment of the liquids stored in them.

[0009] One example of this is temperature influences. If a container is exposed to intense sunlight, the liquid stored within it can be affected. If this liquid is then removed from the container and stored at an alternative location, its use can lead to damage to work processes involving the liquid.

[0010] This also raises the problem of the burden of proof as to whether the damage occurred at the supplier of the container, during transport of the container or on-site at the customer's premises.

[0011] To solve this problem, it is known to place temperature trackers in delivery note pockets attached to the outside of the containers.

[0012] The disadvantage here is that the temperature trackers can only record the outside temperatures, but not the temperature in the respective container, so that the measured temperature values ​​are of little significance for possible impairments of the container contents.

[0013] There is also a risk that the temperature trackers can easily get lost in the delivery note pockets.

[0014] Temperature trackers generally take the form of USB sticks. To read the data stored on them, the user must plug the USB stick into a computer, such as a PC, and then perform the corresponding analyses, which is cumbersome and impractical. Furthermore, USB sticks from third-party manufacturers may be locked, making data retrieval even more difficult.

[0015] DE 10 2018 214 306 A1 relates to a data module for monitoring a container, which is preferably designed for the storage and / or transport of liquids and / or solid materials. The data module can be engaged with a module opening of the container in such a way that both the interior of the container and the exterior can be sensed by the data module.The data module comprises an interior sensor system with one or more sensors configured to detect physical variables inside the container; and / or an exterior sensor system with one or more sensors configured to detect physical variables outside the container, the external condition of the container and / or to determine the location and / or position of the container; and a communications module configured to receive sensor data from the interior sensor system and / or exterior sensor system and having at least one transmitting device configured to transmit data based on the sensor data to an external receiving device.

[0016] EP 3 795 535 A1 relates to a container management system comprising a number of containers, each of which is assigned electronically readable codes identifying the containers, and comprising a number of removal / filling stations configured to remove a liquid from the container or to add liquid to the container. Electronic reading units are assigned to the removal / filling stations, by means of which the container codes can be read. Data read by the electronic reading units is fed to a cloud-based computer system configured to store and evaluate the data.

[0017] DE 10 2019 131 043 A1 relates to a device for level measurement, comprising a container for receiving the filling material and a sensor module with at least one level sensor, in particular an ultrasonic sensor, for measuring a level of the filling material in the container. The level sensor is arranged within the container in an upper region, in particular on a lid of the container, wherein the sensor module has a communication interface. The device is characterized in that a transmitting and receiving device is provided outside the container, and the communication interface is configured for wirelessly transmitting data from the sensor module, in particular measurement data from the level sensor, to the transmitting and receiving device.The transmitting and receiving device is configured to wirelessly receive data from the sensor module and to wirelessly transmit data, in particular via radio, to a remote unit, which preferably has an Internet connection.

[0018] DE 20 2020 107 286 U1 relates to a sensor device for determining process variables in an industrial environment, comprising: a sensor base unit and a first expansion module. The sensor base unit comprises a process variable determination unit for determining the process variable; a first mechanical interface for mechanically receiving a first expansion module; and a first communication interface to the first expansion module for transmitting measurement and / or control data. The first expansion module comprises a second mechanical interface to the sensor base unit, a third mechanical interface for mechanically receiving a second expansion module; a second communication interface to the sensor base unit for transmitting measurement and / or control data; and a third communication interface to the second expansion module for transmitting measurement and / or control data.

[0019] The invention is based on the object of providing a simple and efficient control system for containers of a removal system.

[0020] To achieve this object, the features of the independent claims are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0021] The invention relates to a control system for containers. The containers each have a container opening for the supply and removal of stored goods. Each container has a sensor unit that includes at least one sensor for detecting environmental influences, a processor for evaluating sensor signals, and a contactless interface unit. Each container has a dip tube that opens at the container opening. The dip tube terminates at its outlet at the container opening with a dip tube closure, and the sensor unit is located in the dip tube closure.

[0022] The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

[0023] The containers are advantageously part of a removal system.

[0024] A key advantage of the control system according to the invention is that the sensor unit is integrated into a container component of the respective container. This ensures that the sensor unit is permanently connected to the container, which, on the one hand, prevents the sensor unit from being lost. On the other hand, a high level of tamper resistance is achieved, as unauthorized replacement of sensor units on a container is prevented.

[0025] Furthermore, it is advantageous that by integrating the sensor unit in a container component with the at least one sensor, the influence of environmental influences on the stored goods in the container can be directly detected, whereby a reliable statement can be made on the basis of the sensor signals as to whether there is an impairment of the stored goods in the container.

[0026] Finally, it is advantageous that the sensor unit has an interface unit with which contactless data from the sensor unit can be read out to an external unit, ie no electromechanical connection means need be provided.

[0027] The sensor unit is particularly advantageous as it is an encapsulated unit.

[0028] The respective containers may contain aggressive, hazardous chemicals. In particular, the containers are used to store liquids.

[0029] Encapsulating the sensor unit prevents the chemicals stored in the container from attacking and damaging the components of the sensor unit.

[0030] According to the invention, each container, which advantageously forms part of a withdrawal system, has a dip tube that terminates at the container opening. The dip tube can be closed at its outlet at the container opening with a dip tube closure. The sensor unit is located in the dip tube closure.

[0031] The removal system features a removal head that can be connected to the container opening. Stored goods can be removed from or added to the container via the removal head.

[0032] The container closure or dip tube closure forms a compact, modular unit with the sensor unit. The container closure or dip tube closure forms a single structural unit with the container, meaning there is a fixed assignment of the container closure or dip tube closure to the respective container. The connection between the container closure or dip tube closure and the container can be secured by a tamper-evident device. Removal of the container closure or dip tube closure from the container is only possible by destroying the tamper-evident device, which generally forms a mechanical unit.

[0033] According to an advantageous embodiment, the sensor unit has a temperature sensor.

[0034] In particular, the temperature sensor measures the temperature of a gas phase present in the respective container.

[0035] For this purpose, the temperature sensor can be designed as an infrared temperature sensor.

[0036] This allows the temperature sensor to accurately measure the temperature of the stored goods in the container.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the sensor unit has a shock sensor.

[0038] In particular, the vibration sensor is designed in the form of an acceleration sensor.

[0039] The vibration sensor can detect shock loads on the container that could cause damage to the goods stored in the container.

[0040] The evaluation of the sensor signals from the sensor(s) of the sensor unit takes place in the sensor unit's processor. The term "processor" generally encompasses computer modules, whereby the processor can preferably be embodied in the form of a microprocessor.

[0041] It is particularly advantageous to operate the processor in a sleep mode.

[0042] Sleep mode is a power-saving standby state of the processor. Sleep mode can be activated or deactivated by a watchdog or similar device. Sleep mode allows the processor to be controlled so that it only evaluates sensor signals within specified time intervals. This takes advantage of the fact that it is not necessary to continuously evaluate all sensor signals to detect environmental influences. Rather, it is sufficient to perform the evaluation only within discrete time intervals.

[0043] Advantageously, the sensor unit has a charger that can be connected contactlessly to an external charging station.

[0044] This ensures a secure power supply to the sensor unit even over long periods of time.

[0045] The advantage is that the charger is an NFC charger.

[0046] Correspondingly, the interface unit has an NFC interface module.

[0047] Such NFC units operate contactlessly and do not require electromechanical connection elements.

[0048] The sensor unit advantageously functions in such a way that output signals are generated in the processor depending on the sensor signals from at least one sensor. The output signals are read out to a mobile device via the interface unit.

[0049] It is particularly advantageous to forward the output signals from the mobile device to a cloud-based computer system.

[0050] The reading of the output signals with the mobile device, which is particularly designed in the form of a smartphone, is contactless and therefore does not require any electronic connection devices.

[0051] Advantageously, the sensor unit sends a website address to the mobile device, which connects the mobile device to a cloud, i.e., a cloud-based computer system. The cloud provides a distributed system that networks individual units regardless of their location. In particular, suppliers and customers of the containers can access the cloud.

[0052] Advantageously, the output signals are linked to an identifier that uniquely identifies the sensor unit.

[0053] This ensures, especially in the cloud, a clear assignment of the output signals to the respective sensor unit and thus also to the respective container.

[0054] It is particularly advantageous to have each container uniquely marked with an RFID chip. This identifier can be read into the cloud-based computer system, where it is linked to the sensor unit's identifier.

[0055] Containers are marked and identified in a conventional manner using the container identifiers stored in the RFID chips. By linking the identifiers of the sensor units with the container identifiers, the RFID system is used to securely and unambiguously assign the sensor units to the containers.

[0056] According to an advantageous embodiment, a binary status signal is generated in the sensor unit as an output signal, the signal states of which indicate whether the condition of the container is faulty or not.

[0057] According to an alternative embodiment, a binary status signal is generated in the cloud-based computer system from output signals generated in the sensor unit. The signal states indicate whether the condition of the container is faulty or not.

[0058] In both cases, the cloud-based computer system generates a release or blocking signal depending on the status signal. Only with a release signal is the removal or addition of stored goods to the respective container permitted.

[0059] The container for which the release signal or blocking signal is generated is advantageously identified using the container identification.

[0060] The status signal(s) are advantageously generated by a threshold value evaluation of the sensor signals of the sensor(s) of the sensor unit. If the temperature sensor detects a temperature above a threshold, a critical temperature is reached that could lead to or cause damage to the stored goods. Accordingly, a saving signal is generated in the cloud, preventing any further removal of stored goods from the container.

[0061] If the vibration sensor detects a vibration above a threshold, a blocking signal is generated.

[0062] This prevents damaged stored goods from being removed from the container, which could lead to damage in subsequent work processes with the stored goods.

[0063] The blocking signal generated via the cloud is tamper-proof. Even if a user were to connect such a container to a retrieval head of a retrieval system, it would still prevent the removal of stored goods.

[0064] The invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1: Schematic representation of a withdrawal system with an assigned container. Fig. 2: Immersion tube of the container according to Fig. 1 with an associated immersion tube closure and a radio transmitter. Fig. 3: First embodiment of a sensor unit for a container. Fig. 4: Second embodiment of a sensor unit for a container. Fig. 5: Embodiment of the control system according to the invention.

[0065] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a withdrawal system 1. The withdrawal system 1 comprises a withdrawal head 2, which can be attached to a container 3, which can in particular be barrel-shaped. A liquid is stored in the container 3 as the stored product. The liquids stored in such containers 3 are in particular liquid specialty chemicals.

[0066] The container 3 has a dip tube 4. The dip tube 4 is mounted in a bung head located in a container opening 5 of the container 3 and is thus firmly connected to the container 3. The longitudinal axis of the dip tube 4 runs in the vertical direction.

[0067] The extraction head 2 serves to extract liquids from the container 3. It can also be used to fill containers 3. For this purpose, the extraction head 2 has a liquid connection 2a at its upper end. A line 6 leading to a pump 7 is connected to this liquid connection 2a. The line 6 can be designed in the form of a hose.

[0068] The pump 7 is controlled by a control unit not shown.

[0069] Fig. Figure 2 shows an enlarged partial view of the upper portion of the immersion tube 4, which has a head portion 8 at its upper end, which is mounted in the container opening 5. In the present case, the head portion 8 is screwed into the container opening 5. For this purpose, the head portion 8 has an external thread 8a.

[0070] The opening at the upper end of the immersion tube 4 can be closed with an immersion tube closure 9. In this case, the immersion tube closure 9 is screwed tightly to the immersion tube 4. For this purpose, the immersion tube closure 9 has an external thread 9a and the head part 8 has a corresponding internal thread 8b.

[0071] The container 3, closed with the dip tube closure 9, forms a transportable unit. To identify the container 3, an RFID chip (not shown) is present on the container 3, for example, on the dip tube closure 9 or on the dip tube 4 itself, in which a container identifier is stored.

[0072] According to the invention, a sensor unit 10 is provided in the dip tube closure 9. Examples of such sensor units 10 are shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The components of the sensor unit 10 are encapsulated in a housing 11. The sensor unit 10 generally has at least one sensor for detecting environmental influences acting on the container 3.

[0073] The sensor unit 10 according to Fig. 3 has a temperature sensor 12, which measures the temperature of the gas phase in the container 3. The temperature sensor 12 can, for example, be designed as an infrared temperature sensor 12, in which case the housing 11 is transparent to infrared radiation.

[0074] The sensor unit 10 further comprises a processor 13 in which the sensor signals from the temperature sensor 12 are evaluated. The evaluation is advantageously not performed continuously, but rather at discrete time intervals. For this purpose, the processor 13 is operated in an energy-saving sleep mode.

[0075] Output signals generated in the processor 13 are output to external units via a contactless interface unit 14. The interface unit 14 advantageously comprises an NFC interface module.

[0076] Furthermore, the sensor unit 10 has a charger 15, with which contactless charging processes can be carried out to ensure the power supply to the components of the sensor unit 10. The charger 15 is advantageously designed as an NFC charger.

[0077] The sensor unit 10 according to Fig. 4 differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 3 only in that, in addition to the temperature sensor 12, a vibration sensor 16 is also present, the output signals of which are also evaluated in the processor 13. The vibration sensor 16 is advantageously designed in the form of an acceleration sensor. The vibration sensor 16 detects vibrations of the container 3. In particular, shock loads acting on the container 3 are detected.

[0078] With the sensor unit 10 of the container 3, a control system 100 is provided, which in Fig. 5 is shown as an example. Fig. 5 shows a container 3 without a dip tube 4. In this case, the sensor unit 10 is integrated into a container closure 3a. Output signals generated in the processor 13 of a sensor unit 10 are read out via the interface unit 14 to a mobile device, which in this case is a smartphone 17. The sensor unit 10 also sends a website address, which connects the smartphone 17 to a cloud-based computer system 18.

[0079] This allows the output signals of the sensor unit 10 to be fed via the smartphone 17 to a cloud-based computer system 18, i.e. a cloud.

[0080] The control system 100 can generally comprise a plurality of containers 3 with sensor units 10, which are also spatially distributed. The storage and evaluation of the output signals of the sensor unit 10 takes place completely spatially decoupled from the sensor unit 10 in the cloud-based computer system 18. Customers and suppliers of the containers 3 can access the cloud-based computer system 18, preferably by entering access codes or other authorizations.

[0081] Advantageously, the output signals for each container 3 are linked to an identifier that uniquely identifies the sensor unit 10.

[0082] The data and the identifier are linked in the cloud-based computer system 18 with the container identifier present in the RFID chip of the respective container 3, whereby the output signals of the sensor unit 10 can be clearly assigned to the respective containers 3.

[0083] The evaluation of the sensor signals of the sensor(s) in the processor 13 is advantageously carried out in such a way that a binary status signal is generated from the sensor signals by means of a threshold value evaluation.

[0084] If the sensor signal of temperature sensor 12 exceeds the respective threshold value, a critical temperature is present, which can lead to damage to the stored goods in the respective container 3. If the sensor signal of vibration sensor 16 exceeds the respective threshold value, a critical vibration is present, which can lead to damage to the stored goods in the respective container 3.

[0085] In the cloud-based computer system 18, an evaluation of the status signals of the sensors of the sensor unit 10 is advantageously carried out in such a way that when a sensor, ie in the embodiment of the Fig. 3 in the temperature sensor 12 and in the embodiment of the Fig.4 If a signal state above the threshold is registered at the temperature sensor 12 or the vibration sensor 16, a blocking signal is generated for the respective container 3. Only if none of the sensors of the sensor unit 10 of a container 3 receives a signal state above the threshold is a release signal generated in the cloud-based computer system 18.

[0086] The release or blocking signal for a container 3 is linked in the cloud-based computer system 18 with the container identification of the RFID chip, thereby providing a clear delivery to this container 3.

[0087] The release and blocking signals also allow the cloud-based computer system 18 to monitor and control the withdrawal system 1. A withdrawal of liquid from a container 3 is only authorized for the withdrawal system 1 if the release signal is present for the container 3. If, however, the blocking signal is present for a container 3, the withdrawal system 1 is blocked accordingly, so that no liquid can be withdrawn from the container 3. List of reference symbols 1 withdrawal system 2 removal head 2a Liquid connection 3 containers 3a Container closure 4 dip tube 5 Container opening 6 Line 7 Pump 8 Headboard 8a external thread 9 Immersion tube closure 9a external thread 10 Sensor unit 11 housings 12 Temperature sensor 13 processors 14 Interface unit 15 Charger 16 Shock sensor 17 smartphones 18 cloud-based computer system 100 Control system

Claims

[1] Control system (100) for containers (3), wherein the containers (3) each have a container opening (5) for supplying and removing stored goods, wherein each container (3) has a sensor unit (10) which has at least one sensor detecting environmental influences, a processor (13) evaluating sensor signals and a contactless interface unit (14), characterized by that in each container (3) there is an immersion tube (4) which opens out at the container opening (5), that the immersion tube (4) can be closed at its outlet at the container opening (5) with an immersion tube closure (9), and that the sensor unit (10) is arranged in the immersion tube closure (9). [2] Control system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the container(s) (3) are part of a withdrawal system (1). [3] Control system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the sensor unit (10) is an encapsulated unit. [4] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 or 3, characterized by that the container opening (5) can be closed with a container closure, and that the sensor unit (10) is integrated in the container closure. [5] Control system (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the removal system (1) has a removal head (2) which can be connected to the container opening (5) of a container (3), wherein stored goods can be removed from the container (3) or fed to it via the removal head (2). [6] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that goods in the form of liquids are stored in the containers (3). [7] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the sensor unit (10) has a temperature sensor (12). [8] Control system (100) according to claim 7, characterized bythat the temperature of a gas phase present in the respective container (3) is measured by means of the temperature sensor (12). [9] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the sensor unit (10) has a vibration sensor (16). [10] Control system (100) according to claim 9, characterized by that the vibration sensor (16) is designed in the form of an acceleration sensor. [11] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the processor (13) can be operated in a sleep mode. [12] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the sensor unit (10) has a charging device (15) which can be coupled contactlessly to an external charging station. [13] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the interface unit (14) has an NFC interface module. [14] Control system (100) according to one of claims 12 and 13 characterized by that the charger (15) is an NFC charger. [15] Control system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by that output signals are generated in the processor (13) depending on sensor signals from the at least one sensor, which output signals are read out to a mobile terminal via the interface unit (14). [16] Control system (100) according to claim 15, characterized by that the output signals are forwarded from the mobile terminal to a cloud-based computer system (18). [17] Control system (100) according to one of claims 15 or 16 characterized by that the output signals are linked to an identifier that uniquely identifies the sensor unit (10). [18] Control system (100) according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized bythat a binary status signal is generated in the sensor unit (10) as an output signal, the signal states of which indicate whether the status of the container (3) is faulty or not. [19] Control system (100) according to one of claims 15 and 16, characterized by that in the cloud-based computer system (18) a binary status signal is generated from output signals generated in the sensor unit (10), the signal states of which indicate whether the status of the container (3) is faulty or not. [20] Control system (100) according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized by that each container (3) is uniquely identified with a container identifier stored in an RFID chip, wherein the container identifier can be read out in the cloud-based computer system (18) and linked there with the identifier of the sensor unit (10). [21] Control system (100) according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized bythat a release signal or a blocking signal is generated in the cloud-based computer system (18) depending on the status signal, wherein the removal or supply of stored goods to the respective container (3) is only released with a release signal. [22] Control system (100) according to claim 21, characterized by that the container (3) for which the release signal or blocking signal is generated is identified by means of the container identification. [23] Method for operating a control system (100) for containers (3), wherein the containers (3) each have a container opening (5) for supplying and removing stored goods, wherein each container (3) has a sensor unit (10) which has at least one sensor detecting environmental influences, a processor (13) evaluating sensor signals and a contactless interface unit (14), characterized bythat in each container (3) there is an immersion tube (4) which opens out at the container opening (5), that the immersion tube (4) can be closed at its outlet at the container opening (5) with an immersion tube closure (9), and that the sensor unit (10) is arranged in the immersion tube closure (9).

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