Workplace at a scent organ

Abstract

The present invention relates to a workstation (1) at a scent organ - with a variety of at least aromas or perfumes, each of which is held in containers (2), each container (2) having an individual identifier (2.1), - with a recording device (5) by means of which the individual identification (2.1) can be recorded, - with at least one mixing container (7), and - with at least one robot (10) with at least one first at least swiveling arm (10.2) and at least one gripping device (10.3) for grasping one or more containers (2). According to the invention, the robot (10) is a collaborative robot with at least one optic (10.4) which processes a production order (100) by means of a process control in successive steps (S1 to S8), wherein the process steps (S1 to S8) for the production order (100) are displayed on a display device (4), and wherein the robot (10) independently detects the process steps (S1 to S8) displayed on the display device (4) with the optic (10.4) and in the successive process steps (S1 to S8) fills the aromas and perfumes into the mixing container (7) according to the production order (100).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a workplace at a fragrance organ - containing a plurality of at least aromas or perfumes, each of which is kept in containers, each container having an individual marking, - with a recording device by means of which the individual identification can be recorded, - with at least one mixing container, and - with at least one robot with at least one first at least pivotable arm and at least one gripping device for gripping one or more vessels, according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as a method for processing a production order at the workstation according to the invention according to one of the preceding claims by a collaborative robot according to claim 10.

[0002] Robots for pipetting and dosing substances are well known from the state of the art. These robots must be specifically programmed for the specific application to perform the tasks.

[0003] Furthermore, quickly implementable and easy-to-program collaborative robots, known as cobots, are already known from the state of the art. These robots are used, for example, as multifunctional laboratory robots in medical and biotechnology laboratories. Once programmed, these cobots can perform specific tasks and, thanks to their mobile design, can serve various workstations within a laboratory, performing previously programmed tasks. A particular focus of these collaborative robots is sensor-monitored environmental detection to prevent collisions with humans working in the laboratory.

[0004] DE 20 2022 103 719 U1, for example, discloses a mobile, autonomous, collaborative assistance robot, a system comprising several such assistance robots, and a method for the automated movement and / or manipulation of objects, such as liquid (patient) samples, reagents, and other consumables. The known mobile, autonomous, collaborative assistance robot is used for moving (in particular, transporting) and / or manipulating (e.g., opening / closing / placing / inserting) objects, in particular samples and / or reagents, in particular liquid samples such as blood or urine, which are analyzed in an in vitro diagnostic laboratory, possibly using reagents.

[0005] The assistive robot is programmed for its area of ​​application by reading a digital task from a digital representation of a task list, for example, via an external communications computer. A modification algorithm can be executed on the assistive robot either cumulatively or alternatively. The modification algorithm serves to verify the upcoming planned tasks and / or to modify the tasks. For this purpose, user inputs on a user interface (UI) are processed by the modification algorithm. This has the technical effect that pre-planned workflows can be modified locally, for example, if priorities need to be changed due to current events. The UI can be attached locally to the assistive robot or, for example, set up on a mobile device.

[0006] 10 2017 004 095 A1 describes a tube transfer device in a tube filling machine, wherein the transfer device is formed from a robot with pivoting arms and a gripping device for gripping one or more tubes. The robot is a collaborative robot (cobot) with a sensor device by means of which the presence of a living being can be monitored. If the sensor device detects a living being in the monitored space, the working speed of the tube transfer device is reduced to a value >0 tubes / min, but not switched off. The work to be performed by the cobot, namely the transfer of tubes, is assigned to the cobot via program commands.

[0007] The overall disadvantage of the known robots used at different workplaces is that they have to be programmed for their work at a workplace, for example in a laboratory or in a conveyor system, for their specific task purposes. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The object of the invention is to at least partially improve the robot-manned workplaces known from the prior art. In particular, the object of the present invention is to implement a robot at a human-operated workstation at a fragrance dispenser, where perfumes or aromas are dosed or filled into a mixing container in successive process steps based on a production order. In particular, the object of the present invention is to fill the gap created by the shortage of skilled workers.

[0009] The above object is achieved by a workstation at a fragrance organ with a plurality of at least aromas or perfumes having the features of claim 1. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the drawings.

[0010] The inventive workplace at a fragrance organ - containing a plurality of at least aromas or perfumes, each of which is kept in containers, each container having an individual marking, - with a recording device by means of which the individual identification can be recorded, - with at least one mixing container, and - with at least one robot with at least one first at least pivotable arm and at least one gripping device for gripping one or more containers, the technical teaching includes that the robot is a collaborative robot with at least one lens, which processes a production order by means of process control in successive steps, wherein the process steps for the production order are displayed on a display device, and wherein the robot independently detects the process steps displayed on the display device with the lens and fills the aromas and perfumes into the mixing container in the successive process steps according to the production order.

[0011] Unlike the collaborative robots known from the prior art, which must be programmed for their tasks at a workstation, the inventive workstation at a fragrance organ, where a human can be replaced by a collaborative robot, does not require any restructuring or special programming of the robot, since the instructions a human receives at the workstation to process a production order are the same instructions the robot receives to process a production order. According to the invention, special programming of the robot tailored to the task area at the workstation is eliminated. According to the invention, the robot receives instructions via the display device via its optics.Alternatively, another embodiment of the workstation could provide that the robot receives the process steps usually displayed via the display device directly from an external computer or server or from a computer installed internally in the robot via a data interface, wherein in this embodiment the display device could be omitted when the workstation is occupied by the robot.

[0012] For the purposes of the present invention, "perfumes or flavors" are understood to refer to various alternatives of substance classes. However, these can also be mixed together in the mixing container according to the invention, even if they are understood as alternatives to one another. In this respect, the mixing container according to the invention is also suitable for dosing and filling perfumes and flavors.

[0013] For the purposes of the present invention, a “robot” is to be understood as a collaborative robot or cobot. The robot is advantageously designed as a mobile robot that can be placed at a workstation and removed from there again as needed without having to make structural changes to the workstation, wherein the robot can, according to the invention, replace a human at the workstation 1:1. Since the robot works as a collaborative robot with humans, i.e. the robot moves in the vicinity of humans, it advantageously has a sensor device, for example at least one motion sensor or a temperature sensor that reacts to the body temperature of a human or living being. The robot can also or alternatively have video recording with a camera and image evaluation electronics, via which a human being in the vicinity of the robot can be detected.An ultrasonic sensor can also be installed in the robot as a sensor device.

[0014] The optics of the robot are advantageously designed in the form of a camera, via which the robot, on the one hand, records the process steps shown on the display device in order to then be able to implement these accordingly. On the other hand, the optics of the robot can advantageously be designed in the form of a camera itself as an identification device in order to be able to record, for example, the individual identifications, for example in the form of digital codes on the vessels or the mixing container. The optics of the robot in the form of an identification device advantageously serve to identify the vessels accommodated in the fragrance organ and their contents. In an advantageous embodiment, the optics of the robot can comprise an optical sensor and, in particular, can be designed as a scanner for reading two-dimensional codes, such as a QR code or barcode.In a simple embodiment, the optics and the sensor unit can be identical or integrated into a single component. In another advantageous embodiment, the robot's optics, designed as an identification device, can be formed from two separate components, which are, for example, attached to the robot at different locations at different locations. In addition to the optics, the robot can also have an identification device designed to carry out contactless identification processes, for example, based on RFID, in order to detect the position of the correspondingly marked containers in the fragrance organ and to grasp them when needed.

[0015] For the purposes of the present invention, a "detection device" is understood to mean an identification device, advantageously in the form of a scanner, which is designed to electronically detect (read) digital codes (e.g. barcodes or OR codes). The digital codes on the containers are advantageously detected via the detection device. After detection in a process step, the aroma or perfume filled into the container is dosed or filled into the mixing container in the amount predetermined according to the production order. The display device installed on the workstation or supplied to the workstation shows the progress of the amount of perfume or aroma filled into the mixing container. As is known for workstations for dosing or filling aromas or perfumes, the perfumes or aromas to be filled into the mixing container are weighed into the mixing container using a scale.Filling perfumes or aromas is therefore advantageously carried out using a scale by weighing the perfumes or aromas into the mixing container, whereby the weighing is advantageously displayed on the display device using a bar graph and can thus be tracked via the robot's optics on the display device. In an advantageous embodiment, the robot's optics can also be designed as a detection device in the form of the aforementioned identification device in the form of a scanner. In this embodiment, the robot's optics with the additional function as a scanner have an interface between the computer on which the production order and the software required to process the production order are stored, which interface allows the data detected by the robot to be transferred to the computer with access to the software.

[0016] The "MDS" (Manual Dosing Station) software is advantageously displayed as part of the BMS (Batch Management System) on a stationary computer with a display device designed as a screen at the workstation (fragrance organ). The application instructs the user or the robot, as in the case of the present invention, to process dosing orders from the BMS. After a completed process step, the software automatically switches to the next tab in the "Process Data" area and displays process-step-specific instructions in the "Dialog" area. The user, or according to the invention the user replaced by the robot, can access the at least one connected scale and the reading device (barcode reader), whereby the scale, the mixing container, the materials, and control commands can advantageously be recorded, for example, via barcode or QR code scanning.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the robot can have more than one pivotable arm, for example two or more gripper arms that work on different tasks in parallel or that work together in a coordinated manner to jointly solve a task (e.g., gripping a container and pipetting the aroma or perfume taken from the container into the mixing container). It is also possible for more than one end effector (e.g., a robot hand with a gripping device and a pipetting aid) to be attached to a single gripper arm. The two or more end effectors can also work on different tasks in parallel or can work together in a coordinated manner to jointly solve a task.

[0018] A further aspect of the present invention which achieves the above object is a method for processing a production order at the workstation according to the invention by a collaborative robot, wherein the robot processes the production order by means of process control in successive steps, and wherein the process steps for the production order are displayed on a display device which are independently detected on the display device by the robot using optics, wherein the robot fills the aromas and perfumes into a mixing container in successive process steps according to the production order based on the instructions displayed via the display device.

[0019] Finally, a further aspect of the present invention is the use of a robot for processing production orders at a workstation of a fragrance organ.

[0020] In order to avoid repetitions here with regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention or the use according to the invention of a robot for processing production orders at a workstation of a fragrance organ, reference is made to the description of the advantageous embodiments of the workstation according to the invention and the disclosure is fully relied upon by this description and vice versa. Preferred embodiments:

[0021] Further measures improving the invention are presented in more detail below with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. It should be noted that the embodiments illustrated in the figures are merely descriptive and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

[0022] They show: Fig. 1 shows a workstation according to the invention with a collaborative robot in a sketchy representation. and Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a workstation 1 according to the invention in the form of a fragrance organ with a plurality of at least aromas or perfumes, which are each filled in containers 2 that are placed on a shelf 3. Each of the containers 2 is marked with an individual identifier 2.1 in the form of a barcode, wherein the individual identifier 2.1 is assigned to the content, namely the aroma or perfume in the respective container 2. The workstation 1 also comprises a display device 4, advantageously with touch operation, via which a production order 100 (see Fig. 2) from a connected computer (not shown) or via remote access, for example from a server, and is displayed in the form of individual, consecutive process steps S1 to S8. by a collaborative robot 2 in a sketchy representation. Advantageously, the “MDS” (Manual Dosing Station) software is shown as part of the BMS (Batch Management System) on the stationary computer (not shown) or on the server with the display device as a screen at the workstation 1 designed as a fragrance organ. The software, which is programmed as application software, instructs a user to process dosing orders from the BMS. After a completed process step S1 to S8, the software advantageously switches automatically to the next tab in the “Process Data” area and displays process step-specific instructions in the “Dialog” area.In addition to the display device 4, the workstation 1 is equipped with a data acquisition device 5 in the form of a barcode or QR code scanner, a scale 6, and a pipetting device 9. At least the data acquisition device 5 and the scale 6 are connected to the computer or server via data transmission such that the acquisition commanded via the display device 4, namely a scanning of an individual marking 2.1 of a vessel 2 or the individual marking of a mixing container 7, shown in the figure as a QR code, is transmitted back to the computer or a server as a control command.The dosing or filling of aromas or perfumes from the vessels 2 into the mixing container 7 is also transmitted via the scale 6, on which the mixing container 7 set up on the scale 6 for a production order 100 is placed, is transmitted to the computer or the server in data format in such a way that a control command is displayed to a user via the software via the display device 4 in the form of a progress report 8, shown in the figure as a bar graph 8.1, i.e. the quantity of an aroma or perfume weighed into the mixing container 7 is transmitted via the scale 6 to the computer or a server as a control command to activate the progress report 8 displayed via the display device 4 for the weighed quantity of an aroma or perfume. The progress report shown as a bar graph 8.1 The progress success 8 shown on the display device 4 in the figure is to be understood as a bar which progresses from left to right on the display device 4 in the figure, which bar advantageously changes from one color, for example green, to another color, for example red, at the end of the weighing of an aroma or perfume into the mixing container 7, whereby the user receives, in addition to the bar filling from left to right, the optical signal from the color change that the amount of aroma or perfume to be weighed into the mixing container 7 has to be completed and when the filling of an aroma or perfume into the mixing container 7 has been completed, the next process step S1 to S8 is automatically displayed to the user via the software via the display device 4, ie the user is instructed to continue the production order.As shown in the figure, the workstation 1 according to the invention is not, as is usual, represented by a user in the form of a person, but in this case the user is to be understood in the form of a robot 10. As already described for the instruction steps for the user, these are understood according to the invention 1:1 for the robot 10. The illustrated robot 10 is to be understood as a collaborative robot (cobot) that can replace a user at the workstation 1 designed as a scent organ if necessary. In order to be able to move flexibly from one workstation 1 to another, or to be able to be removed from the workstation 1 again, the robot 10 is designed as a mobile robot 10 with wheels 10.1 or rollers. In this case, the robot 10 or cobot has an arm 10.2 in the form of a gripper arm, which is both pivotable and height-adjustable, or the robot 10 can pivot the arm 10.2 and move its height.As shown, an end effector in the form of a robot hand with a gripping device 10.3 is attached to the arm 10.2 designed as a gripper arm. With the gripping device 10.3, the robot 10 is able to grip the mixing container 7, the pipetting device 9 and the vessels 2, and if necessary, also the detection device 5 in the form of a scanner provided at the workstation 1. Advantageously, it can also be provided that the robot 10 independently calls up a production order 100 by touching the display device 4. This means that the robot 10 with the arm 10.2 can already copy all movements of a user at the workstation 1. However, the invention provides that the robot 10 can completely replace the user, for which purpose the robot 10, in addition to the arm 10.2 with the gripping device 10.3, has an optics 10.4 in the form of a camera and, in particular, in the form of an identification device.

[0024] The optics 10.4 of the robot 10 in the form of an identification device advantageously serves to identify the vessels 2 accommodated in the workstation 1 designed as a fragrance organ and their contents. The optics 10.4 of the robot 10 can also comprise an optical sensor and can be designed in particular as a scanner for reading two-dimensional codes, such as a QR code or barcode. In a simple embodiment, the optics and the sensor unit can be identical or integrated into one component. In another advantageous embodiment, the optics 10.4 of the robot 10 designed as an identification device can be formed from two separate components, which are attached to the robot 10, for example, at different locations at different positions. In addition to the optics 10.4 additionally comprise an identification device designed to carry out contactless identification methods, for example based on RFID, in order to, for example, detect the position of the correspondingly marked vessels 2 of the fragrance organ and to grasp them when needed. Using the optics 10.4, the robot 10 can independently detect the process steps S1 to S8 displayed on the display device 4 and is thus able to fill the aromas and perfumes into the mixing container 7 according to the production order 100 based on the sequential process steps S1 to S8 instructed via the display device 4. In addition, the robot 10 is able to use the optics 10.4 to track the weighing progress of the aromas or perfumes via the progress success 8, as shown in the form of the bar graph 8.1, and advantageously to perceive the color change of the bar graph 8.1 upon completion of the weighing process.

[0025] Fig.Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a method 50 for processing a production order 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. For the method 50, the invention provides that a collaborative robot 10 replaces a user for processing a production order 100 at the inventive workstation 1 in the form of a fragrance organ. The robot 10 receives the instructions for executing the method 50, in this case the processing or execution of a production order 100, via a process control displayed on a display device 4. The inventive method 50 in the form of a production order 100 is characterized by the following successive steps S1 to S8: - Before starting the process, the robot 10 uses the optics 10.4 to map the arrangement of the containers 2 with the aromas or perfumes filled therein based on the individual marking 2.1 on the containers 2, - After the start of the method 50, the production order 100 displayed on the display device 4 is recorded in step S1 by means of the optics 10.4, - in step S2, a mixing container 7 linked to the production order 100 by means of an individual identification 7.1 is placed on the scale 6, or the mixing container 7 is detected by the detection device 5 or the optics 10.4 of the robot 10 by means of the individual identification 7.1 and is linked to the production order 100, - in step S3, the robot 10 calls up the process step indicated on the display device 4 via the optics 10.4, - in step S4, the process step instructed from step 3 is implemented in that the robot 10.3, with its gripping device 10.3 and with the support of the optics 10.4, takes a container 2 from the shelf 3 of the workstation 1 and either holds it in front of the detection device 5 of the workstation for detecting the individual marking 2.1 or the optics 10.4 of the robot 10 detects the individual marking 2.1 itself and the detection of the container 2 is transmitted in data format to the computer or a server on which the software underlying the production order 100 is running, and the robot 10 places the container on the workstation 1; - in step S5, the robot 10 removes a quantity of the contents from the placed container 2 using a device, in this case a dosing device in the form of a pipette 9, and fills this content into the mixing container 7 using a weighing system. The robot uses the optics 10.4 to read the progress of the aroma or perfume dosed or weighed into the mixing container on the display device 4 based on a progress indicator 8, for example in the form of a bar graph 8.1, and ends the dosing process or the process step, for example, when the color of the progress indicator 8 changes. The progress indicator 8 is controlled by the data transmission of the weighed-in quantity from the scale 6 to the computer or a server. - in step S6, the robot 10 places the container 2 previously placed on the workstation 1 back into the shelf 3, - in step S7, the advantageously automatically next process step programmed in the production order 100 is instructed to the robot 10 via the display device 4 and called up by the robot according to step S3, and the robot 10 repeats steps S4 to S6 with a further aroma or perfume until all process steps S1 to S8 programmed in the production order 100 have been processed by the robot 10, - in step S8, the robot 10 takes the mixing container 7 from the scale and ends the production order.

[0026] After completion of the production order 100, the robot 10 can immediately go back to step S1 in order to process another production order 100. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2022 103 719 U1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Workplace (1) at a fragrance organ - with a plurality of at least aromas or perfumes, which are each held in containers (2), each container (2) having an individual marking (2.1), - with a detection device (5) by means of which the individual identification (2.1) can be detected, - with at least one mixing container (7), and - with at least one robot (10) with at least one first at least pivotable arm (10.2) and at least one gripping device (10.3) for gripping one or more vessels (2), characterized bythat the robot (10) is a collaborative robot with at least one optical system (10.4), which processes a production order (100) by means of a process control in successive steps (S1 to S8), wherein the process steps (S1 to S8) for the production order (100) are displayed on a display device (4), and wherein the robot (10) independently detects the process steps (S1 to S8) displayed on the display device (4) with the optical system (10.4) and fills the aromas and perfumes into the mixing container (7) in accordance with the production order (100) in the successive process steps (S1 to S8). [2] Workplace (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the robot (10) uses the optics (10.4) to record the position of the vessels (2) held in the fragrance organ in the form of a mapping based on their individual marking (2.1) before processing the production order (100). [3] Workplace (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by that in each process step (S1 to S8) the vessel (2) with the aroma or perfume is taken from the fragrance organ by the robot (10) and fed by the robot (10) to the detection device (5) and after detection via the detection device (5) the robot (10) is shown via the display device (4) in which quantity the robot (10) has to fill the aroma or perfume from the detected vessel (2) into the mixing container (7). [4] Workplace (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the robot (10), when filling the aroma or perfume into the mixing container (7), uses its optics (10.4) to detect a visualization of the amount of aroma or perfume to be filled, displayed on the display device (4), via a progress indicator (8, 8.1), wherein the robot (10) continuously detects the progress of the amount filled from the container (2) via the visualization via its optics (10.4). [5] Workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that to complete a process step (S1 to S8) the robot (10) places the aroma or perfume filled in the process step (S5) in the detected vessel (2) back into its position in the fragrance organ. [6] Workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that after completion of the production order (100) the robot (10) replaces the filled mixing vessel (7) with a new mixing vessel (7) for the processing of a further process-controlled production order (100). [7] Workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the robot (10) can retrieve a production order (100) via the display device (4). [8] Workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the robot (10) has, in addition to the first pivotable arm (10.2) with the gripping device (10.3), a second pivotable arm with at least one pipetting device, or the robot (10), after gripping the vessel (2) from the fragrance organ and after placing the vessel (2) on the workstation (1), grips a pipetting device (9) on the first pivotable arm with the gripping device (10.3), with which the robot (10) removes the quantity to be filled from the vessel (2) and pipettes or doses it into the mixing container (7). [9] Workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that communication with the robot (10) takes place via the display device (8). [10] Method (50) for processing a production order (100) at the workstation (1) according to the invention according to one of the preceding claims by a collaborative robot (10), wherein the robot (10) processes the production order (100) by means of process control in successive steps (S1 to S8), and wherein the process steps (S1 to S8) for the production order (100) are displayed on a display device (4) and are independently detected by the robot (10) with an optical system (10.4) via the display device, wherein the robot (10) fills the aromas and perfumes according to the production order (100) into a mixing container (7) in successive process steps (S1 to S8) based on the instructions displayed via the display device (4).

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